CHANDIGARH, India: European champion Netherlands came from behind to beat host nation India 2-1 in the final of the Punjab Gold Cup field hockey tournament yesterday.
Jeroen Hertzberger scored the winner in the 66th minute, while a last-minute goal by Joel Baker earned New Zealand a 3-2 win over world and Olympic champion Germany to take third place in the four-team event. Hertzberger, who was declared man of the tournament after finishing with a six-goal haul, decided a game which had been scoreless at halftime. India earned the first penalty corner, though skipper Sandeep Singh was unable to convert it, and Netherlands had no better luck with their corner in the 19th minute.
The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when India's Prabhjot Singh provided a measured pass to Shivendra Singh, who was checked in the striking circle by Wouter Jolie. A penalty was awarded and Sandeep Singh made no mistake.
The lead lasted only four minutes before Netherlands leveled with a superb field goal by Robert Kemperman. Hertzberger scored the winner from a penalty corner in the 66th minute, a minute before India wasted its fifth penalty corner of the game. New Zealand also had to rally for its victory against Germany.
Jan Philipp Rabente gave Germany a 16th minute lead, but Dean Couzins leveled in the 25th minute and Lloyd Stephenson put New Zealand in front in the second half before Oskar Deecke equalized for Germany.
All four goals came from penalty corners.
Baker struck the late winner after collecting a pass from Nicholas Wilson on the right flank and making no mistake with his shot.
