Netherlands

The Netherlands, seeking a hat-trick of men's Champions Trophy field hockey titles, stormed into the final with a 4-2 win over strong challengers Spain here on Wednesday.

Karel Klaver led the way with three goals for the Dutch, who have won five of the last eight titles N including the 2002 and 2003 editions Nof the annual tournament featuring the top six nations in the sport.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the Netherlands in the current tournament and lifted them to the top of the round-robin league with 12 full points, three more than Spain.

Spain need a draw against hosts Pakistan in the last round of matches on Friday to join the Netherlands in the final, while the Dutch can afford a leisurely stroll against second-string Germany.

Klaver made it 3-1 after the break with a superb reverse flick
Pakistan, who have six points, must first defeat arch-rivals India later on Wednesday to challenge Spain for the second spot in Sunday's final.

Klaver put the Dutch ahead in the 15th minute with a stinging shot from the top of the circle and Geert Jan Derikx increased the margin three minutes later with a penalty stroke.

Spain, who had won all their three previous matches, narrowed the margin just before the interval when Santiago Freixa sliced through the Dutch defence and pushed home.

Klaver made it 3-1 after the break with a superb reverse flick, but Pau Quemada kept Spain afloat by converting a penalty corner in the 57th minute.

Spain pressed for a 3-3 deadlock in the last quarter but saw the Dutch save two penalty corners before Klaver put the match beyond Spain's reach with his third goal in the penultimate minute of the match.

"We are still not playing at our best but the important thing is that we are in the final," said Dutch coach Terry Walsh.

"We knew Spain were capable of picking goals towards the end and needed to be careful. But I expect my team to be more consistent than they have been so far."

Spain's Dutch coach Maurits Hendriks said the match was closer than the scoreline suggested.

"The difference was that the Netherlands put the ball in the goal and we did not," he said.

"We had the Dutch under pressure right through the game. I am still hopeful we will meet them again in the final." - Sapa-AFP

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