Yibbi Jansen’s penalty corner hat trick helped the Netherlands overcame an early setback to beat Spain and move within one win of an historic EHC five in-a-row.
She scored three of her side’s four penalty corners while she was on the field to send her side through to the final where they will hope to win their 13th title.
They did not have it all their own way, however, in the early stages where Spain attacked with purpose, creating a variety of chances in the first 10 minutes.
One of them stuck – Xantal Giné’s direct ball into the D whizzed to the left post where Patricia Alvarez impudently redirected the ball behind her back and through the legs of Josine Koning.
It was a lead that lasted until the 22nd minute as the Netherlands regrouped and began to control the tempo of the game. They got level from their second penalty corner, Jansen going to the stick-side to find the corner.
Four minutes later, she went the other side to swap the lead before the half-time break. The game remained in the balance as Coti Amundson brilliantly denied Jansen a third in the early stages of Q4.
It kept Spain in the hunt but they were powerless to keep out yet another drag from the Dutch number eight in the 49th minute.
It was the goal that ultimately determined the contest, giving the Netherlands enough daylight to see out the victory.
