Title contenders the Netherlands staved off New Zealand's spirited resistance to record a 3-1 victory in their second Pool A match of the hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Wednesday .
The Dutch, who had blanked Argentina 3-0 in their first match on Monday, slammed three goals after New Zealand had taken the lead in the opening minute of the match itself in front of a handful of spectators at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. Both sides failed to add any goal in the second half after the Netherlands led 3-1 at the breather.
For the Netherlands, Ronald Brouwer (2nd minute), Taeke Taekema (7th) and Jeroen Hertzberger (27th) found the target while Phillip Burrows (1st minute) scored for New Zealand. The Netherlands earned five penalty corners in the match while New Zealand got three. The Dutch now topped the Pool A with six points from two wins.
The match was nicely set up with New Zealand sounding the board as early as the opening minute through skipper Phillip Burrows who had the faintest of a touch of a cross by Steven Edwards.
In-form the Netherlands struck back immediately in the next minute with Ronald Brouwer scoring after captain Teun de Nooijer's reverse stick shot was rebounded off goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex. PTI
