NEW DELH: The Netherlands and Argentina will meet in the FIH Hockey World Cup final on Saturday, setting up a rematch of the 2022 title clash, which the Dutch won. The Netherlands, hosts and three-time defending champions, edged co-hosts Belgium 1-0 in the first semifinal, while Argentina defeated Australia by the same margin in the second semifinal on Thursday night.
The Netherlands faced an underdog Belgium side in Amsterdam, but the visitors made a strong start and matched the defending champions through a closely contested opening quarter.
The Dutch eventually broke the deadlock just before half-time when Frédérique Matla produced a one-handed deflection in the 28th minute following a well-worked move.
Belgium earned a penalty corner with nine seconds remaining in the first half but failed to convert.
The second half remained tightly contested. Belgium appeared to have found an equaliser late in the match when 18-year-old Famke van Heel struck a powerful shot into the net, but the goal was overturned following a review.
The Netherlands held on to reach their eighth consecutive World Cup final.
In the second semifinal, Argentina and Australia played out a cagey first half, with both teams managing only five circle entries and one penalty corner each.
Argentina increased the pressure in the third quarter but could not find a breakthrough, while Australian efforts were also kept at bay, including a promising attempt saved by Argentina goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino.
The breakthrough came in the 47th minute when Julieta Jankunas finished a penalty-corner variation to put Argentina ahead.
Cosentino then produced two important saves from Australian penalty corners midway through the final quarter to preserve Argentina’s lead.
Australia came agonisingly close to an equaliser with 17 seconds remaining, but captain Grace Stewart narrowly missed connecting with an attempt from outside the circle, allowing Argentina to advance to their seventh World Cup final.
Earlier, Spain secured seventh place after defeating China 1-0 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Spain took the lead just before the end of the first quarter when Marta Segu’s mis-hit found its way into the goal. China equalised with two seconds remaining in the second quarter through Anhui Yu’s powerful reverse strike from the edge of the circle.
China dominated the third quarter but failed to convert its chances, while Spanish goalkeeper Clara Pérez made several important saves in the final period.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match went to a shootout, which Spain won 1-0 after 11 unsuccessful attempts by the two teams.
England finished ninth with a 3-1 victory over the USA, with all four goals coming from penalty corners. Elizabeth Neal gave England the lead before Ryleigh Heck equalised in the second quarter.
Lily Owsley restored England’s advantage five minutes later through a clever penalty-corner variation, while Tessa Howard completed the scoring in the 55th minute.
Japan secured 11th place with a 2-1 win over Scotland. Miyu Suzuki opened the scoring from a penalty stroke in the 11th minute before Akari Nakagomi doubled Japan’s lead with a deflection in the final quarter.
Scotland reduced the deficit through Ellie Mackenzie from a penalty corner with just over two minutes remaining after taking off their goalkeeper. Japan survived another penalty corner with 34 seconds left to secure the win.
In the playoff for 13th place, twin sisters Niamh and Michelle Carey combined to give Ireland the lead in the 14th minute against South Africa. Despite creating several opportunities, particularly on the counterattack, South Africa could not find an equaliser as Ireland held on for victory.