These Tokyo Games have already been the Netherlands’ most successful across the sports. Despite the pressure to deliver, adding to their haul seemed a formality in the hockey for the world No.1 Dutch. It proved a golden one for Alyson Annan’s side, after a 3-1 win over Argentina, to capture their third gold in four Olympic Games.
This was a final decided by penalty corner chances. Caia van Maasakker found her range with two goals from three corners, while Margot van Geffen set the ball rolling. Argentina had left gold within reach with a late second quarter goal through Agustina Gorzelany. There was no through the Dutch defence in a scoreless second-half.
“You really see a team playing every single time you step on the pitch and that’s what I’m most proud of,” said captain Eva de Goede, “and that’s why I actually started to play hockey because it was most fun to play in a team, and this is it for me.”
Gold left the Oranje with a quite scintillating record since the Rio Olympic final five years ago, matching their marauding, complete performances.
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