Hockey heartbreak as GB are thrashed by the Netherlands
IZZY Petter’s dreams of hockey gold come crashing down after Team GB were well beaten by Netherlands in their Olympic semi-final yesterday, writes Charlie Bennett of Sportsbeat.
The Loughborough University student was part of the side that was thrashed 5-1 by the same team they beat in the Olympic final five years ago.
Team GB must now re-group ahead of tomorrow’s bronze medal match against India, though the manner of the defeat will be tough to take.
But captain Hollie Pearne-Webb has urged the team to quickly switch their focus to the clash with India.
“We have had to show some resilience during this Olympic cycle and now we have to get over this quickly and move on,” she said.
“We’re a new group of players and we have a medal to play for.
“We have to get in the right frame of mind for the game and try and bring a medal home.
“It won’t be easy but we are used to being resilient and it’s our job to focus on that match and try and win a medal.”
Team GB arrived with a score to settle following their 1-0 pool stage defeat to Netherlands.
But as the first quarter progressed in sweltering 34 degrees sunshine, the defending champions started to struggle, with goalkeeper and ex-Loughborough University student Maddie Hinch called upon to produce a fine save from a penalty corner to keep them level at the end of the first quarter.
Netherlands, who have medalled at every Games since 1992, did not have long to wait for the breakthrough, taking the lead in the 19th minute through Felice Albers.
Team GB needed to regain a footing in the match but the Dutch were irresistible and added a quick second when Maria Keetles was unmarked in the circle and smashed a low effort into the bottom corner.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, Pearne-Webb tried to rally her side but the Dutch delivered a further blow shortly after halftime when Maria Verschoor flicked a penalty corner past Hinch.
Albers notched her second of the game minutes later by touching in a bouncing ball from the left, before Team GB hit back when another ex-Loughborough University student Giselle Ansley buried a penalty corner.
But the 2012 gold medallists added a fifth late through Frederique Matla to seal it. ■■Stream every unmissable moment of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 live on discovery+, the Streaming Home of the Olympics.