Germany downed by Lammers cracker

Netherlands maintained their 100% winning record with a 2-1 victory of Germany, delighting the large number of fans here in the Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen. The result keeps them firmly at the top of Pool B, with the home favourites looking hot favourites to win the group with one game remaining.

The largely orange-clad crowd were treated to a thrilling start to the game when The Netherlands opened the scoring inside the first 25 seconds. Carlijn Welten worked her way into the circle from the left before seeing her attempted cross deflected into the goal by Germany defender Julia Müller. Welten will be credited with the score, but Müller’s touch was as close to an own goal that you will see in hockey.  

The last time that Germany conceded a goal in the first minute to the Netherlands resulted in an 8-1 loss, but Natascha Keller was keen to ensure that there would be no repeat of the 2005 Champions Trophy result. In the 10^th minute the veteran striker showed that she is still as sharp as ever when she pounced on a loose ball and smashed a powerful drive into the bottom corner of Joyce Sombroek’s goal to pull her team level.

It didn’t take long for The Netherlands to move ahead once again when Kim Lammers received the ball in acres of space and charged towards goal. Upon entering the circle she struck a ferocious shot into the bottom left corner which gave Barbara Vogel absolutely no chance of saving.

Lammers almost scored again five minutes from the break when Germany failed to deal with a cross into the circle, but the striker sent her snap shot fractionally wide of the target before Maartje Paumen wasted a penalty corner chance a couple of minutes later.

Germany came out fighting in the second half and won two penalty corners in quick succession, but the efforts on goal were no match for the athleticism of Dutch shot-stopper Sombroek. Germany’s keeper Vogel was soon in action herself, as Netherlands looked to put some clear water between themselves and their opponents. Marilyn Agliotti almost grabbed a third for the Dutch, but her rasping effort from the left crashed against the side of the goal.   

The Netherlands were forced onto the back foot for much of the last ten minutes, but Germany could not find the equaliser that they were looking for.

The result puts The Netherlands on six points in Pool B, three clear of second placed New Zealand who are just ahead of Germany having scored more goals. Australia are currently at the bottom of the Pool, but all this could change in the final round of matches on Tuesday.

Review 8. Germany vs Netherlands 1-2 - Rabo FIH Champions Trophy 2011 

> The Netherlands have now won their last 7 matches against Germany in major tournaments, since losing 2-0 in the 2007 Euro Nations Cup. The Dutch are also on a 7-match winning streak against China and Korea.
> The Dutch are the top ranked team in Pool B, but are not through to the next round yet as both Germany and New Zealand have a change of finishing on six points as well.
> Carlijn Welten (NED) scored after only 25 seconds of play. At the 2005 Champions Trophy Kim Lammers also scored a 1st minute goal for the Netherlands in their 8-1 win over Germany.
> Kim Lammers has now scored once in each of Holland’s last 5 international matches against Germany (2 test matches, 2 CT matches and 1 WC match).
> Welten became the first player to score in the first minute of a CT match since Toshie Tsukui (JPN) in 2007 against Spain (1-0).
> Natascha Keller is now on a career total of 15 FIELD goals in Champions Trophy competition. Only Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER, 19 FG) and Jackie Pereira (AUS, 16 FG) have scored more CT goals from open play.  Katrina Powell (AUS) also scored 15 field goals.