Thanks to videosport.cz, we were able to see the game online. Almost as if we were standing right next the pitch. When the National Anthem started I was wondering if there was somebody who couldn’t be proud of our team, as they were standing arm in arm at the beginning of the game. All credits go to Mary Bergmann and Aafke Kamstra for giving us such great appearances!
The first half, especially the first 10 minutes, the nerves of the Dutch girls were ruling the field resulting in a 10-0 start for Ireland. But after a quick talk of Coach David, the spirits were lifted, minds were focused and the nerves were placed under control. The Dutchies came back into the game:
Ilsa van der Berg (nr 17) opened the scorelist for Holland after 20.52 minutes of playtime, quickly (22.71 min) followed by a goal from the 18 year old Sarah Sweerts de Landas (nr 18) Wyborgh and another one made by Ilsa van der Berg (25.48 min). was the moment where the Irish Coach asked for a Time Out. This was a clever move definitely in favor for the Irish girls, because 4 other goals for Ireland were made, until a score of 14-3.
Michelle Scanlon – van Wert (nr 7),who used to play defense for her club, but is in attack for the Netherlands, broke the Irish pattern assisted by Mary Bergmann (nr 12) by a goal for the Netherlands at 29.94 minutes. As before, this turn raised the spirits of the Dutch girls and brought them back in the game where Ilsa van der Berg, assisted by Jessica Stokhof (nr 21) put the score to 14-6. Ireland had the chance to make two more goals, but with only 35 seconds on the clock before half time, Marjolein Munniksma (nr 13) was able to set the final half time score to 16-6.
Because of technical problems, the broadcasting online was abruptly broken off after the first half. Luckily there are still such things as old fashioned sound only connections; called mobile phones. So, here is in short a summary of the second half. Hopefully details can be filled in at a later time point.
Almost as tradition for the Dutch Women’s Team, the second half was much better. The Irish had to work for each piece of ground. This resulted in a score in the second half of 6-7 in favor of the Netherlands, well done Dutchies! Unfortunately, this battle left its marks on some of the players. Don’t worry dear family, friends and fans of the Dutch Players, it is nothing that our incredible physiotherapist Rachel Southall cannot fix.
I think we can be very, very proud of the opening of this first game, where the girls showed that they have the quality, strength and most of all willpower to come back in the game and fight each opponent with equal strength.
Tomorrow, the girls play their second game at 13:00 against South Corea at pitch B. Again, I will be dressed in orange, watching online, cheering (he, you never know the impact of mental power) and hoping the channel doesn’t change this time.
