The Dutch hockey women have qualified for the final of the European Championship in Mönchengladbach. They won the semi-final against Spain 3-1. All three goals were scored by Yibbi Jansen from Gemonde.
Yibbi (25) already started at HC Den Bosch at the age of seven and there she went through all the youth teams. When she was fifteen years old, she played for the first time in the first team of Den Bosch. Eight years ago she participated for the first time with the Dutch hockey team. Since then she played almost a hundred times for the Orange and scored almost one-on-one.
Against Spain it was even hit three times, although it took a while before the goal machine started. In the opening phase via Fay van der Elst, the Dutch team immediately had two big chances, but was surprisingly behind in the fifth minute. Patricia Alvarez worked a tip-in inside on the instructions of Xantal Gine. Spain then had two more options to increase the lead.
In the 21st minute, Yibbi Jansen brought the Netherlands to the same level through a used penalty corner. Four minutes later, Jansen, again via a penalty corner, took care of the 2-1.
Soon after the beginning of the fourth and last quarter, Jansen got the chance on the 3-1 through a penalty corner, but the Spanish line stopper Constanza Amundson turned her stake. Shortly thereafter, Frédérique Matla forced a new penalty corner, which Jansen did use: 3-1.
Kwamutie five times in a row
The Netherlands penetrated as a group winner to the semi-final after victories in Ireland (2-0), Germany (5-1) and France (6-0).
The Dutch hockey players won the last four editions of the European Championship. They can become European champion five times in a row for the first time. In total they won twelve of the sixteen earlier editions.
In the final of Sunday, the Orange play against the winner of the match between Belgium and Germany.