The Dutch team gives up its huge lead and loses to the Australians

The Orange Men suffered their second defeat of the season in the FIH Pro League. National coach Jeroen Delme's side lost 5-4 to Australia in Bhubaneswar after taking a huge 3-0 lead. With about thirty seconds left, Tim Brand scored the winning goal.

Before the match, Jeroen Delme had already indicated that he sees the match against the Aussies as a big challenge. Not only tactically, but also physically. Australia were clearly the physically superior side in the match against India on Thursday (6-4 win), especially in the latter part of the match. This was also the case against the Netherlands. There seemed to be no problem for the Orange Men when they went to the locker rooms after two quarters with a 3-0 lead. But after sixty minutes of play, the Australians left the field victorious, just as they had the day before.

The Orange Men started the match well in a moderately packed Kalinga Stadium. After a little poke from Jasper Brinkmann, Doku Telgenkamp scored six minutes later. Following a pass from Seve van Ass, the Kampong striker smashed the ball high into the ropes with his backhand. Already the thirteenth goal in fourteen international matches for the goalkeeper.

The Dutch team did not have many chances before the end of the first half, but the finish was sharp. Quinn Begin, who played his 50th international match, single-handedly extended the lead to 3-0. The Den Bosch player sent the ball twice into Australia's goal after a good attack. This brings his total goals to 26 goals. The match was already over for Tion Baines. The defender was hit in the face by Daniel Bell's stick. After treatment on the field, Baines went to the locker room and did not return. Bale was punished with a yellow card and a ten-minute penalty.

Quinn Begin receives congratulations from Sevi Fan Ass after his goal against Australia in the professional league. Photo: World Sports

Hayward's bitter goal

About twenty minutes later, Australia entered the Dutch circle for the first time. Tim Brand shot from behind, but saw his shot hit the sideboard of the goal. Goalkeeper Permin Black covered the short corner well. Moments later, the Australians were allowed to take the first penalty kick of the match. Black saved the effort from department head Jeremy Hayward. The Dutch team had two other good opportunities to increase its lead. Floris Middendorp had his shot blocked by goalkeeper Johan Dorst, who moments later also saved a close-range backhand effort by Telgenkamp.

Despite the significant advance, the Australians continued to be cautious. The Kookaburras scored shortly after halftime. Blake Gophers was alert to the rebound and beat Black from close range. This meant that Van As's mistake in stopping around the halfway line was punished severely. Australia pressed and put the Dutch under pressure. It resulted in two penalty kicks taken by Hayward.

Forty minutes later, the tension completely returned to the match. It meant the Dutch had to roll up their sleeves to keep the Australians at bay. It does not work. It was Australia that equalized the score. Again it was Hayward from a corner kick: 3-3. Moments ago, the Dutch team was allowed to build from the head of the circle for the first time. Jeb Janssen's shot, who was playing his 100th international match, went wide of the Australian goal.

A disappointment for Jeb Janssen. Photo: World Sports

The painful last seconds

Seven minutes before the end, Australia turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead. The Australians' sixth penalty kick was converted by the Gophers. The fourth goal came shortly after the video referee canceled a goal for the Dutch national team. It was ruled that before Thierry Brinkmann's goal, Telgenkamp touched the ball with the convex side of the stick.

The Dutch goal is still coming. This time the video referee saw that the foul on Middendorp was so serious that he allowed the Dutch team to take a penalty kick, which Janssen used: 4-4. With 29 seconds left on the clock, Australia came out on top. Defender Justin Block handed the ball over clumsily. Tom Wickham picked it up and fired at the Dutch goal, after which Brand touched the ball just ahead of Black: 5-4 to Australia.

With defeat to the Australians, the Dutch team ended their four-match series in Bhubaneswar. Delmée's side will play Group B of the IPL in India from Monday in Rourkela. Then Ireland, India, Spain and Australia are the competitors again.

Joy in Australia after a goal against the Orange men's team in the professional league. Photo: World Sports