Rabobank Hockey World Cup: Netherlands crowned champions after beating Australia 2-0

Maartje Paumen: Scored the first of two Dutch goals as the Netherlands won the Hockey World Cup

Netherlands women added the Rabobank Hockey World Cup to their London 2012 Olympic gold on Saturday as they beat Australia 2-0 at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague.

Captain Maartje Paumen and Kim Lammers helped build a two-goal lead for the host nation in the first half and that lead was protected in a goalless second half as the Netherlands claimed a fourth World Cup.

It was a fifth successive World Cup final for the Dutch and remarkably a fourth contested between the two nations, with Australia’s 1998 victory in Utrecht being sandwiched by wins for Netherlands in 1990 and 2006.

After beating each other on opposition soil, the most recent final meeting between the sides came on neutral ground in Madrid in 2006, when the Netherlands prevailed 3-1 to lift their third World Cup.

Lammers, who bows out after 200 international apperances, was delighted to end her career with Olympic and World Cup success.
"I only could dream of this," the Dutch playmaker told Sky Sports.

"I have to say a massive thank you to the team, we stayed focussed and took our chances when they came.

"I'm so proud, to win in a home stadium and on my 200th cap, it's amazing."

Australian goalkeeper Rachael Lynch was immediately called into action as Max Caldas’ Dutch side made a flying start, with Ellen Hoog’s fierce back-handed shot forcing a high save in the opening two minutes.

Ahead

After failing to beat Lynch with a penalty corner shot moments earlier, Netherlands captain Paumen sent the host nation ahead with a 12th-minute penalty stroke.

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Highlights from the final of the Women's Hockey World Cup as the Netherlands defeated Argentina 2-0.

Australia’s riposte came via Kellie White as the 22-year-old fired a first shot on target for the two-time champions, but Dutch shot-stopper Joyce Sombroek was equal to the threat.

Netherlands doubled their lead before half-time as Lammers fired home a field goal at the second time of asking after her first shot was repelled by Lynch.

Australia returned from the break rejuvenated but could not reduce their arrears as Jodie Kenny was twice denied by Sombroek from successive penalty corners.

It was not long until the one-way traffic resumed, though, as Lammers almost doubled her match-tally with a flick that ricocheted off the chest guard of Lynch, before Kelly Jonker was sent through on goal only to shoot wide.  

Try as they may, Australia could not find a route through the organised and resilient Dutch defence as Caldas’ side held out with the partisan support of an orange-dominated Kyocera Stadium.

"We're disappointed with the result but they're a better team than us at the minute," Australia's Donna Blyth admitted.

"It's hard to see it right now but I'm certain we'll be a better team for this, we're playing in the big games and that's what matters for us."