Holland look unstoppable for women's hockey gold at Rio
Reigning Olympic champions on course for a hat-trick in Rio
HOLLAND 2
AUSTRALIA 0
Naomi van As has bags of experience and has been part of both the Holland women's hockey teams that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Games.
She is a top talent, and Australia's coach Adam Commens says the defending champions are favourites to make it a hat-trick of Olympic golds this year because the Dutch squad are peppered with such quality.
The Dutch women comfortably beat the Hockeyroos 2-0 at the TPG International Tri-Series at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium last night and, speaking to The New Paper after the game, Commens said: "The strong point of the Dutch team is that they have players across all their lines that can make a difference.
"They're a team that don't have many weaknesses.
"They're physically good, they have good basic skills and they pass the ball well."
Big guns Holland, Australia and Germany are in Singapore for the Tri-Series as a tune-up for the Olympics, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from Aug 5 to 21.
The Dutch were the better team last night and failed to convert a number of chances for a more emphatic triumph.
The win followed the Dutch team's 0-0 draw with the Germans on Tuesday.
Australia forward Ashleigh Nelson was disappointed with the way the Hockeyroos performed.
"We wanted to really stamp our authority and make sure we get a win on board against Holland, who are the world No. 1," said Nelson, who insists the Dutch are not unbeatable.
"We really didn't have the ball in our attacking half and put them under pressure.
"That's what you need to do - you need to put Holland under pressure via the scoreboard because that's when they start making mistakes.
"But, if we can't get any goals on the board, that pressure doesn't come."
There was little pressure on the Dutch team when Maria Verschoor scored the first goal close to the end of the first quarter last night.
Roos Drost extended the lead just before half-time and it was pretty much game over.
UNEXPECTED
"I didn't expect it (the goal)," Verschoor said.
"But of course you're playing to score, although it doesn't matter who scores as long as the team win.
"But I'm happy that I scored a goal."
Verschoor watched from the stands when the Dutch took on Germany and she felt the teamwork of the Olympic champions was much better last night.
"We were more connected with each other than (in) the first game... We got closer to each other and got to pass more, and that was the difference today."
Australia will have a chance for revenge, and the opportunity to send their own message when the two sides meet again on Saturday in the final match of the series.
Nelson believes the Hockeyroos will be much improved, as she looks ahead to Rio.
"I think we'll be disappointed if we don't at least make the gold-medal match in Rio in August," she said.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
