MÖNCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY 4 : Holders The Netherlands retained the ERGO Hockey Junior Women World Cup by overcoming a fighting Argentina with an aggregate 5-3 margin in penalty shoot-out in the final here today. As the stipulated 70-minute session ended in a one-all stalemate, the shoot-out was ordered to resolve the deadlock.
In penalty shoot-out sessions, The Netherlands scored through Marloes Keetels, Sarah Jaspers, Maria Verschoor and Laurien Leurink.
For Argentina Florencia Habif and Julia Gomes Fantasia were the goal-getters. Maria Garanatto and Jimena Cedres fumbled with their tries.
Final Standings: 1. Netherlands, 2. Argentina,3. India, 4. England, 5. Spain, 6. Australia, 7. United States, 8. South Africa, 9. New Zealand, 10. Germany, 11. Korea, 12. China, 13. Belgium, 14. Canada, 15. Russia, 16. Ghana.
Earlier, the regulation period, the final started slow but quickly escalated into a fast-pace game with chances either side. Argentina forced their first penalty corner midway through the first half but Julia Gomes Fantasia’s flick went wide of goal. The Leoncitas had slightly more ball possession, but failed to convert this advantage to goals.
The Netherlands forced their first penalty corner in the 28thminute. However, the Argentine goalkeeper Sofia Montserrat made a brilliant save against tournament top scorer Lieke van Wijk. Before, Montserrat had parried well against Samantha Saxton firing from close range. With three minutes remaining in the first half, the Dutch girls forced their second penalty corner which was converted by drag flicker van Wijk. Montserrat had no chance as the ball hit the top corner of the net. The Netherlands held a narrow 1-0 advantage in the first session.
On resumption , the Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal was called into action several times as Argentina looked to draw. The Leoncitas pushed hard to force the equaliser but Veenendaal made sure that nothing gets passed her. On the other side, Montserrat parried another penalty corner flick from van Wijk. The Leoncitas eventually levelled the score with a fine goal in the 66th minute.. With four minutes remaining on the clock, Jimena Cedres deflected a penalty corner shot from Gomes Fantasia into the goal.