Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw to win the Women’s Hockey World Cup in Amsterdam. The victory ended the Dutch team’s run of three successive titles and delivered Argentina’s first world crown since 2010.
AMSTERDAM | By Sayer Zaland
Argentina ended 16 years without a Women’s Hockey World Cup title on Saturday, defeating hosts and three-time defending champions the Netherlands in a shootout.
The teams finished regulation time level at 1-1 before Argentina prevailed 3-1 in the shootout, securing the country’s third women’s world title and reversing the result of the 2022 final, when the Dutch won 3-1.
The Netherlands controlled more of the closing stages of the first half and broke the deadlock from their first penalty corner. Yibbi Jansen sent her attempt into the left side of the goal with 51 seconds remaining before the interval, scoring her tournament-leading eighth goal.
Argentina created several penalty-corner opportunities in the third quarter without converting, but continued to press. With six minutes left, María Granatto reacted first to a rebound and fired in the equaliser.
Neither team found a winner before the end of regulation time, leaving the title to be decided in the shootout. Argentina goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino helped limit the Netherlands to one conversion as her side scored three.
Cosentino was named player of the match after also making a key first-half save against Pien Dicke. “I really have no words for this,” the goalkeeper said in the International Hockey Federation’s match report.
The final was the fifth Women’s Hockey World Cup decider between Argentina and the Netherlands. Argentina’s victory followed world titles in 2002 and 2010, while denying the hosts a fourth consecutive championship.
Belgium finished third after beating Australia 1-0 in the bronze-medal match. Charlotte Englebert scored from a penalty corner in the 20th minute, giving Belgium its first Women’s Hockey World Cup medal since 1978.
The score, timing and title history were also confirmed by Reuters.
File photo: Argentina players celebrate during the Tokyo Olympic women’s hockey final on August 6, 2021. Photo by Secretaría de Deportes via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
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