The Netherlands won a crazy women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship final over Spain as they survived an incredible comeback to then sparkle in the closing seconds.
For long periods, it looked like this would be a comfortable road to the gold medal as they led from the first minute and were three goals clear with eight minutes to go.
Three goals in 77 seconds from Spain somehow brought the game back level only for Eline Jansen to respond with one of the goals of the tournament.
She weaved in from the right-wing in between a forest of sticks before unleashing a ferocious backhand shot into the bottom corner.
Guusje Moes tucked in a fourth into an empty net for good measure, confirming their 11th success on this stage.
Earlier on, Trijntje Beljaars had slotted a drag-flick into the bottom right corner and it set the Dutch up well against a side they had beaten in the group stages.
But, despite nine corners, they could not fully see home their advantage until the third quarter when they were awarded a stroke which Noor van den Nieuwenhof whipped in.
When she added her second stroke at the start of the fourth quarter, it looked certain to be a decisive win but they had reckoned without Spain’s incredible belief.
Teresa Saenz de Santa Maria added to her heroics earlier in the tournament when she dove to touch in a crash ball. She scored again from a beautiful shot from the right of the D and then Lucia Casado whizzed in another from a corner with a backhand strike.
But the Dutch regathered with a whirlwind finish and were able to get the Oranje party started.
England won the bronze medal in the afternoon heat when they held out Germany with a 1-0 result with Jessica Dyson’s poacher’s instinct making the difference.
It came on the stroke of half-time as she reacted quicker amid a monumental goalmouth scramble to push the ball home close range.
In the second half, Germany had all manner of chances but they found Molly Smith in inspired form while her defensive team mates worked hard to grind out the clean sheet.
In Pool C, Ireland took the last remaining spot at the next EuroHockey U21 Championship and a place at the Junior World Cup into the bargain.
They fought back from a goal down in the closing quarter to win 3-2. Lucy Mackey and Adela Jardemar exchanged corner goals in the first quarter but a Mathéa Lassalle volley had France in front at half-time, a lead they carried into the final quarter.
There, Leah O’Shea levelled and Lauren Moore won the game two minutes later, a result which assured the Junior Green Army of sixth spot with France in seventh.
On the other pitch, Belgium scored four times in the first five minutes to record a comfortable 7-0 win over Austria with Astrid Bonami scoring a hat trick. The Young Red Panthers finish fifth with Austria in eighth spot.
Women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship – final standings
- Netherlands
- Spain
- England
- Germany
- Belgium
- Ireland
- France
- Austria
