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Netherlands showed no sign of nervousness as they beat Pakistan 5-1 in their Pool C match.
This was also the last group match of this World Cup before the crossovers starts tomorrow and enjoyed by a packed crowd at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Netherlands got the majority of the crowd support and made full use of it.
Netherland and Pakistan have met each other 12 times in the World Cup, within Pakistan winning six of them. This was also an affair between sides who share seven World Cups between them – Pakistan won four and Netherlands three.
However, Netherlands have become a potent power in the world of hockey where as Pakistan are an old self of their champion team, which ruled the world in the last century.
Thierry Brinkman opened the scoring for Netherlands in the 7th minute but Pakistan equalised couple of minutes later through Umar Bhutta.
As they match was promising to be thrilling encounter, Netherlands made it one-sided affair with their domination on the turf. Valentine Verga put the Dutchmen in lead in the second quarter and Bob de Voogd increased the lead in the third.
Netherlands scored two more goals in the last quarter through Jorrit Croon and Mink van der Weerden.
Netherlands will now face Canada in the crossovers on Tuesday whereas Pakistan will have a tough test when they take the field against Belgium.
#3 Rashid Mehmood
Pakistan needed someone in their team who could hold the ball and control the possession like their captain Mohammed Rizwan, who is out of the World Cup. Rashid Mehmood, one of the most experienced players on the field, did the job beautifully against Netherlands.
It was not enough though to keep the scoreline respectable. But at least Pakistan were lucky to register a goal in their name and Rashid was main man behind it. It was his brilliant pass which fell to Umar Bhutta, who made no mistake.
Pakistan got three penalty corners right after they conceded. But there was no one in their team who could convert straight using his drag flicking skills. In came Rashid.
After the third attempt was saved, the ball suddenly fell to Rashid, who squared it to Umar, standing near the first post. Umar calmly received the ball before placing it past the Dutch goalkeeper.
Rashid also played an important in keeping their defensive shapes right in the first half. Pakistan may have lost concentration and the match miserably, but Rashid earned praise for his contribution.
#2 Pirmin Blaak
Netherlands have won by a comfortable margin against Pakistan to make their way into the crossovers. But it wouldn’t be so easy to see had Pirmin Blaak was not there in the goal.
The veteran goalkeeper is one among the few who are shining in this edition of the World Cup.
Though Netherlands endured a dismal day against Germany in their last match, but rarely Blaak was off-colour as he made some good block to save his team from being mauled.
Blaak maintained his rhythm against Pakistan too as he made back to back saves when Pakistan got three straight penalty corners in the 10th minute. His brilliance in using left hand and his foot during penalty corner was enthralling to see.
He dived, used both his foots and hands and even stick to keep the scoreline unaffected during penalty corners.
At least four have attempt have been saved by him. He was the main reason why Pakistan never looked dangerous in the opposition circle.
#1 Seve Van Ass
The most impactful Dutch player on the field was certainly the Rotterdam-born player Seve Van Ass. With some brilliant individual skills, he gave Pakistan players a difficult time.
He made his first impression on the match in the sixth minute, when he made a riding tackle to deny Pakistan a beautiful opportunity.
He also inspired his team before the second quarter just when Netherlands were not looking positive in their body language.
Early in the second quarter, van Ass earned penalty corner which the Dutchmen failed to count.
But he didn’t take much time in making his experience count. He got a pass inside in his own half and using the open space ahead, he ran towards the opponent’s box, exchanging couple of passes with Valentin Verga.
By the time he reached near the circle, several other Pakistani players came to block him. But van Ass kept his cool, showed some brilliant stickwork and passed the ball to Verga, who made no mistake.
That move happened within some seconds and was a classic example of counter attack.
He used both the sides to make his attacks and was deadly inside the circle. Van Ass also made some eye-catching passes using little space.
He earned another penalty corner in the fourth quarter which was wasted by his team.
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