Argentina ended the Netherlands’ reign as ladies’s hockey world champions in dramatic vogue on Saturday, holding the three-time defending champions to a 1-1 draw earlier than prevailing 3-1 in a shootout to elevate World Cup for the primary time in 16 years.
In entrance of a packed residence crowd in Amsterdam, the Dutch appeared on target to increase their exceptional dominance when Yibbi Jansen put them forward simply earlier than halftime.
However Argentina refused to buckle.
Maria Granatto struck with six minutes remaining within the fourth quarter, changing a rebound from a penalty nook to ship the ultimate right into a shootout, the place goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino emerged because the decisive determine.
Argentina stored their composure when the stress was at its highest, edging the shootout 3-1 to safe their first world title since 2010 and deny the Netherlands a fourth consecutive crown.
The victory capped a exceptional match for Argentina, who had proven resilience all through and saved their greatest nerve for the largest second.
“That is actually one thing I’ve no phrases for,” Cosentino mentioned after being named Participant of the Match. “We have been wanting ahead to this second.”
The ultimate was the fifth time Argentina and the Netherlands had met in a ladies’s Hockey World Cup closing, including one other chapter to one of many sport’s defining rivalries.
The opening half was carefully contested, with neither aspect keen to present the opposite an early foothold. Possession was shared and clear-cut alternatives have been scarce.
Cosentino was referred to as into motion when Pien Dicke broke ahead on a solo run. The Argentine goalkeeper got here off her line to make a wonderful save and protect the impasse.
The Netherlands regularly elevated the stress and eventually discovered the breakthrough with solely 51 seconds remaining within the second quarter.
Awarded their first penalty nook of the match, the Dutch turned to Jansen, who despatched a robust strike into the left aspect of the web to present the hosts a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Argentina responded with renewed urgency after the interval and created a number of penalty-corner alternatives within the third quarter, however the Netherlands’ defence held agency.
The champions appeared more and more near securing one other title, however Argentina continued to push.
Their persistence paid off with six minutes left in regulation.
One other penalty nook created chaos in entrance of the Dutch purpose and Granatto reacted quickest to the rebound, firing it residence to make it 1-1.
Neither aspect may discover a winner through the remaining minutes, forcing the title to be determined by a shootout.
There, Argentina held their nerve whereas Cosentino supplied the ultimate barrier between the Netherlands and one other championship.
“I believe it was one thing the crew was wanting ahead to 2 tournaments in the past, within the Olympics, within the different World Cup,” Cosentino mentioned. “I believe we actually deserve it.”
“We have been a extremely good crew all alongside the match, and I am actually happy with the ladies that have been preventing with me on this match.”
Argentina, in the meantime, left Amsterdam with the largest prize of all — and a brand new chapter of their hockey historical past.
After 16 years of ready, Las Leonas had their crown again.
Earlier on Saturday, Belgium beat Australia 1-0 to say bronze and finish a 48-year watch for a World Cup medal. Charlotte Englebert scored within the twentieth minute with Belgium’s first penalty nook. Australia pushed for an equaliser and eliminated their goalkeeper with simply over 4 minutes remaining, however Belgium’s defence held agency. The Pink Panthers final gained a World Cup medal in 1978. Englebert, named Participant of the Match, mentioned Belgium had made victory “not an choice to lose” after their semifinal defeat. The bronze accomplished a memorable return to the rostrum for Belgium.