The News International

From Khalid Hussain

MADRID, Spain: Striker Ronald Brouwer struck a golden goal as defending Olympic champions Holland prevailed over Spain to win the Olympic Hockey Qualifiers here at the Club de Campo on Saturday (briefly reported in ‘The News’ yesterday).

Spain led by a goal at halftime but Teun de Noojer leveled it in the 44th minute to take the final into extra time where Brouwer scored a superb goal in the very first minute to decide the result.

On a very emotional day for Spain, a country in mourning after Thursday’s train explosions, the final started with a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the tragedy.

From the start of the final, the Dutch played a very tight game, giving Spain virtually no space in the midfield. Both teams played cautiously unlike the semifinals where the Dutch forward-line beat India into submission and Spain pulverised Pakistan with an astonishingly superb attack.

A defensive error by Floris Evers led to Spain getting pocession with Pol Amat and Santiago Freixa able to attack the Dutch goalie in the circle. Friexa finished the passing combination with an enviable ease to make it 1-0 for Spain. The hosts led 1-0 at halftime.

In the 44th minute, Teun de Nooijer picked up a pass from Brouwer at full speed, got pass a defender and then smashed the ball past the Spanish goalie to make it 1-1. The match went into extra time after both sides failed to score any more goals. The Dutch wasted no time in providing a sudden finish to the game with a great individual goal to Brouwer. The mercurial striker ran in from the left and smashed a reverse shot from a very tight angle that went the goal to the surprise of the packed stadium.

By winning the title, Holland topped the list of seven qualifiers for this August’s Olympic Games in Athens. Spain, Pakistan, India, Great Britain, New Zealand and South Africa also made the field for Athens. They join the five continental champions Germany, Australia, Korea, Argentina and Egypt in the Olympic hockey tournament.

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