NOS Sport•vandaag, 12:27
Netherlands wins first match on the Video games, nevertheless it was not simple in opposition to Angola
The Dutch ladies’s handball crew didn’t begin the Olympic Video games very convincingly. Within the first group stage match, Per Johansson’s crew was definitely not flashy in opposition to Angola, however they did win: 34-31.
Step one in direction of the target for this match was taken. The Netherlands needs to succeed in not less than the semi-finals and if attainable take house a medal. This could surpass the efficiency on the earlier Video games, when the crew reached the quarter-finals.
“We come right here for a medal and wish to win each match. On this approach we ship a transparent message to our subsequent opponents,” mentioned Angela Malenstein after the troublesome match in opposition to Angola.
Sloppy Orange
However to win a medal, the crew led by flag bearer Lois Abbingh must be a bit extra correct within the subsequent matches. Towards Angola, not a giant handball nation, the Netherlands was fairly sloppy in assault at instances.
Many passes went unsuitable and defensively the crew additionally had a tough time in opposition to the bodily sturdy attackers.
Though the Dutch crew regained the lead after being 1-0 down through Nikita van der Vliet and Abbingh, Johansson’s crew was by no means actually capable of draw back from the Angolans. The hole remained solely two or three factors within the Netherlands’ favor for a very long time.
ANPAngola makes it troublesome for the Netherlands within the first half
Yara ten Holte, the goalkeeper who excelled a lot throughout final 12 months’s World Cup, needed to watch as her crew gave the Angolan gamers far an excessive amount of house to shoot. Because of this, the Dutch crew additionally needed to take care of too many objectives in opposition to.
Ten Holte, who made few saves, didn’t end the primary half. Rinka Duijndam, who had come into the crew for a penalty, was allowed to remain on.
The Netherlands and Angola went into halftime with the rating at 19-18.
hThe Dutch crew after the win over Angola
The truth that the Netherlands nonetheless had a lead was due to Estavana Polman, Dione Housheer and Angela Malestein. They took the crew in tow with a number of objectives.
They did so instantly after the break, when the Netherlands picked up the tempo a bit and prolonged their result in three factors. That margin was maintained when Ten Holte briefly returned underneath the bar and, chilly on the pitch, took a penalty.
Watch the reactions of Angela Malestein and Dione Housheer right here:
Angola then had extra bother discovering the Dutch purpose. That ensured that the Dutch by no means actually acquired into bother and finally gained the match 34-31.
“I am very relieved,” says Housheer. “Particularly that everybody got here out of the combat unscathed, Angola remains to be very a lot into pounding. It wasn’t a straightforward match, however we stayed calm and saved scoring.”
Olympic Video games Group Stage Schedule
- July 28, 9:00 PM: France – Netherlands
- July 30, 2:00 PM: Netherlands – Spain
- August 1, 9:00 am: Netherlands – Brazil
- August 3 9:00 am Hungary-Netherlands
“We saved combating collectively,” Malestein provides. “It wasn’t simple, however if you happen to suppose you’ll be able to simply win on the Video games, that is not the suitable perspective. In fact you simply must win it, however we did.”
France subsequent opponent
The following match for the Dutch handball gamers might be on Sunday. High favourite France would be the opponent.
“That might be a special story,” says Housheer. “France performs a bit quicker and smarter. This match was good to get into after which now we have to be there once more in opposition to France.”
The highest 4 groups from the pool of six qualify for the following spherical.
