The Netherlands have been crowned as the inaugural winners of the Hockey World League thanks to a stunning 5-1 win against Australia in the tournament final in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina.  

A sell-out crowd watch a fiercely contested match as the Olympic champions fought back from Anna Flannagan’s early penalty corner strike to emerge as winners courtesy of second half strikes from Maartje Paumen (2), Roos Drost, Kitty van Male and a brilliant solo goal from player of the tournament Lidewij Welten.

Australia came into the game buzzing with confidence following a string of wonderful performances, but how they would cope against the Olympic champions was anyone’s guess. However, fans both here in Tucuman and those watching on the global broadcast soon found out that they were more than capable of trading blows with their illustrious rivals.

The Hockeyroos shocked their opponents in the 6^th minute of the match when Anna Flanagan netted with a deflected penalty corner drag-flick, a lead that lasted until the early stages second half when the European giants turned the match on its head with two goals in the 43^rd minute.  Netherlands captain Maartje Paumen netted the leveller with a low penalty corner drag flick before pacey winger Roos Drost surged into the circle from the left and slipped the ball between the legs of Australia keeper Rachael Lynch.

Australia rallied hard to restore parity, but a 52^nd minute field goal from Kitty van Male took the score to 3-1 to provide some breathing space.

Paumen claimed her second of the game and her team’s fourth with another brilliant penalty corner effort before Welten produced a moment of magic to move past three Australian players before lashing home a ferocious strike to seal the win.

Welten’s goal was a fitting way to end what has been a sensational first edition of the Hockey World League, with the teams now switching their attentions to next year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.

Team Roster

Joyce Sombroek, Frederique Derkx, Marloes Keetels, Kitty van Male, Malou Pheninckx, Willemijn Bos, Lisanne de Lange, Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel, Maria Verschoor, Lidewij Welten, Caia van Maasakker, Maartje Paumen, Ellen Hoog, Rosalin Drost, Jacky Schoenaker, Margot van Geffen, Xan de Waard, Larissa Meijer

Coach - Max Caldas

Manager - Margriet Zegers

Full information including highlights of every match can be found on our tournament website by clicking here.

Standings
Gold: Netherlands
Silver: Australia
Bronze: England
4^th: Argentina
5^th: New Zealand
6^th: China
7^th: Germany
8^th: Korea

Fair Play Award: The Netherlands

Individual Awards

Player of the Tournament: Lidewij Welten (NED)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Maddie Hinch (ENG)

Top scorer: Maartje Paumen (NED) – 6 goals.