The Dutch women’s hockey team have lost the World Cup final, beaten by Argentina in a shoot-out at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Saturday.
The match finished 1-1, and Argentina then won the shoot-out 3-1 to take the title.
The result denied the Netherlands, the nine-time and reigning world champions, the chance to become the first nation to win four World Cups in a row. They played the final unbeaten in their previous 38 matches.
Yibbi Jansen had put Oranje ahead just before half-time, her eighth goal of the tournament as its top scorer. But Maria Granatto levelled from a penalty-corner move six minutes from time, and in the shoot-out only Marijn Veen scored for the hosts.
The defeat ended a run of 35 wins in those 38 games. The Dutch team’s last loss, some 18 months ago, also came against Argentina, who now win their third world title after 2002 and 2010.
“Bitter, very bitter,” said the national coach, Raoul Ehren. Jansen said she could not take in the outcome: “I just can’t believe it turned out this way.”
The Dutch men’s team had already missed out on a home final, losing their semi-final to Spain 4-3 on Friday.
