Mickey Roberts’ hat-trick in the Netherlands Juniors’ 6-0 victory over South Africa

World champion Jung Orangi scored the first win of the tournament on the second day of the 21st World Cup in Chile. After a draw against Australia, national coach Dave Smolinars’ team defeated South Africa, 6-0, on Thursday evening. This means that the Netherlands has excellent qualifications to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The first goal of the match came after just a minute and a half and was scored by Mickey Roberts. She immediately hit the first penalty kick of the match. Early in the second quarter, Roberts picked the same corner on the next corner and scored 2-0. Just before half-time, Jeb Dickey made it 3-0 with a backhand winner.

Trijntje Beljaars earned her second penalty of the tournament in the third quarter: 4-0. A few minutes later, Roberts completed her hat-trick with an excellent score: 5-0. Four minutes from time, Beljares scored from a header to make it 6-0, her second of the evening. The Dutch junior team will have a rest day on Friday. The Netherlands will play the last match in the group stage on Saturday against Chile (11 pm Dutch time). A draw is then enough to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Dutch juniors were lord and master

Clearly, South Africa was on a different level than Australia, with whom the Netherlands tied 2-2 on Wednesday. This result somewhat spoiled the good feeling the Dutch junior team had this week. South Africa, which lost its first group match 0-1 to Chile on Wednesday, turned out to be the ideal opponents to bounce back. Babette Bakkers, who as agreed was under the crossbar throughout the match in place of first-choice goalkeeper Sophie ter Kuile, only had to make two saves from a corner kick.

Early in the match, it was Isis van Loon who put the ball into the South African’s boots from the baseline. This led to the first penalty kick of the match. Mickey Roberts pushed the ball over the goalie’s glove side and against the ropes via the stick stopping the line: 1-0. A dream start for a world champion.

Striker Mette Winter then had the chance to make it 2-0. From the spin she shot the target with her forehand. But goalkeeper Len McLaren’s save was fantastic. Stepping to the left at the right time, the ball hit her leg.

The Dutch junior team was the best team ever on the field, but at that stage did not always show the game that would be needed to extend the world title. A lot of passes were missed, just like against Australia. After the first quarter, Dave Smolinars urged his players to come together quickly. He believed his team should show more quality. However, South Africa were not a formidable competitor.

Trijntje Beljaars scored in a 4-0 win over South Africa from a corner kick. Photo: WorldSportPics/Frank Uelenbrock

Hat-trick for Mikey Roberts

In the end, the Netherlands played easy hockey and achieved a convincing victory. When José Moyes put the ball on one foot early in the second quarter, the Netherlands scored the second corner of the game. Then it seemed like a repeat of the first angle. Roberts swiped the ball back alongside the goaltender’s glove: 2-0. After a few minutes, Roberts was allowed to approach the head circle again. This time her train was the prey of goalkeeper McLaren.

The score was 3-0 before half-time, scored by Jeb Dickey. The striker won the ball himself on the left flank, between the halfway line and the 23-metre line. After exchanging the ball with Trijntje Beljaars in the circle, she hit hard with her backhand. The ball was shot with military precision into the short corner between the post and goalkeeper McLaren’s right foot.

After Imke Verstraeten found McLaren’s right foot from a header in the third quarter, Trijntje Beljaars converted a corner kick. It was 4-0 after 39 minutes. A few minutes later, Roberts scored her third goal of the evening. Shoving her over the ropes made it 5-0. Verstraeten pulled the ball into the post. Four minutes before the end, Beljars put the score 6-0 on the scoreboard. The Dutch junior team can be reasonably satisfied with the final result.