MCT: Dutch crush Pakistan hopes in Champions Trophy 
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| Netherlands |
December 7, 2004
Hindustan Times
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Defending champions the Netherlands took a giant leap towards a Champions Trophy hat-trick when they defeated hosts Pakistan 4-1 in Lahore on Tuesday.
The Dutch, who won the elite six-nation event in 2002 and 2003, recorded their third successive win in the current tournament to join Spain at the top of the round-robin league with nine points each.
Spain, 3-1 victors over New Zealand earlier on Tuesday, lead the table with a superior goal difference of 12-3 against the Netherlands' 14-7.
Pakistan, who have six points from three matches, must beat arch-rivals India and Spain in their remaining games to stay in contention for Sunday's final.
Dutch captain Jeroen Delmee celebrated his 300th match by scoring his team's fourth goal a minute before the final whistle to silence some 15,000 boisterous Pakistani fans at the National Hockey Stadium.
The teams were locked 1-1 at the interval after Pakistan's penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas equalised Ronald Brouwer 15th minute goal.
The Dutch took a 3-1 lead against the run of play when Taeke Taekema converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute and Karel Klaver deflected in a pass from the right five minute before the end.
Pakistan paid for poor finishing, their best chance coming late in the second half when Shakeel Abbasi beat Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels but shot wide off the empty goal.
When the Dutch earned their fourth penalty corner towards the end, Taekema let Delmee take the hit and the captain did not disappoint with a stinging shot to the right of the Pakistan 'keeper.
"I think the scoreline was a bit flattering," said Delmee.
"We were lucky that Pakistan missed a few chances in the second half. I think we will have to play a lot better if we are to win this tournament."
Pakistan's Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, who returns home after the tournament to take charge of his national team from Australian Terry Walsh, was not unduly dissapointed.
"If you look at the board, it looks terrible, but this was one of the best matches Pakistan have played in a long time," he said.
"We attacked more than the rivals and kept them under pressure. It was just unfortunate we could not get more goals."
The Netherlands meet Spain next on Wednesday with the winner assured of playing the final. Pakistan clash with India the same day.
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