Netherlands scorch Canada with post-breather goals

NEW DELHI - The Netherlands, in a second-half blitz, decimated Canada 6-0 and moved closer to a semi-final berth from Pool A of the Hockey World Cup here Friday.

After a goalless opening session that saw Canada defend dourly, the Dutch broke through their rivals\’ defences to strike at will during a 22-minute post-breather spell. The victory boosted their points tally to nine and they stay at the top of the Pool.

The redoubtable Taeke Taekema (41st and 63rd) converted penalty corners twice to get the first and sixth goals for his team and take his individual World Cup tally to 19 spread over three editions.

The 30-year-old has scored half a dozen goals in the current tournament, and has his name in the scorers\’ list in every game.

Rogier Hofman (48th and 26th) also scored two goals, while Ronald Brower (43rd) and Rob Reckers (53rd) struck once each for the Netherlands at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.

\”The first half was very tough. We knew we needed time to break the opponents. In the second half they started to get tired and we got more open spaces to utilise,\” Dutch coach Michel Van Der Heuvel said after the match.

The Dutch controlled proceedings from the start, but Canadian goalkeeper Metthew Peck stood firm, coming to his side\’s rescue several times.

In the second session, Taekema opened the floodgates with a neat drag flick and two minutes later Brouwer hit home after skipper Teun de Nooijer did the spadework.

Nooijer, the most capped international in the tournament, was the livewire of the Dutch attacks and played the role of an attacking midfielder to perfection.

The 33-year-old stole the show yet again a little later, unleashing a firm hit which was blocked by Peck, but Hoffman put the ball home off the rebound to make it 3-0.

The Dutch were now toying with the Canadians.

Peck, playing his first game in the Cup, again saved a Robert Kemperman effort, but Reckers followed the ball well to slam home the rebound.

Hoffman then scored a spectacular goal as he dived full length to guide in a Floris Evers cross before Taekema completed Canada\’s humiliation with another lethal drag