Netherlands v Germany 5:2 (5:2)

The Netherlands win the Bronze Medal after a 5:2 (5:2)-victory against Germany. Dutch Minke Smeets (Smabers before marriage) won her tenth Champions Trophy medal making her the most decorated player in the competition’s history.

The Bronze Medal match was a clash between the two European top nations. The encounter did not just sound promising the crowd saw a big battle between the Netherlands and Germany.

The Dutch got the better start into game and were 4:0 in front after only 25 minutes. After Ellen Hoog took the lead, Maartje Paumen increased it through a penalty stroke goal. When Germany just seemed to have found their way back into the game Marilyn Agliotti scored twice within four minutes. The fourth goal against was the finally wake-up call for Germany who answered with the 4:1 through Eileen Hoffmann. Now the Dutch felt that the Germans are one the way back into the game and put them more under pressure again. It was a really intensive match on a high level during this time. The Dutch converted another penalty corner through Maartje Paumen who turned new top scorer with five goals. Germany scored once more from open play.

With seven goals scored in 35 minutes the bronze medal match had the biggest half time score in this tournament. “The first half was full of unforced errors. In the second half, we were much more satisfied with our performance. We cut down our errors. The German team has come a long way from our first match to today', said the German defender Tina Bachmann.

After the game Germany against the Netherlands finished with a 1:0-victory for the Dutch in the round-robin this match was a real improvement of both teams.

The second half seemed a bit like both teams did not have the power anymore to keep up the pace shown in the first 35 minutes. Dutch goal scorer Ellen Hoog agreed: “Our first half performance was much better than the second. We played more as a team. In the second half the team got tired.”
Germany tried to score but were too unlucky, they were not able to score from four penalty corners awarded in row.

Goal scorers
1:0 9’ Ellen HOOG (FG)
2:0 14’ Maartje PAUMEN (PS)
3:0 21’ Marilyn AGLIOTTI (FG)
4:0 25’ Marilyn AGLIOTTI (FG)
4:1 27’ Eileen HOFFMANN (FG)
5:1 29’ Maartje PAUMEN (PC)
5:2 34’ Natascha KELLER (FG)