Monchengladbach (Germany): The Netherlands and defending champions Germany played out a rousing 2-2 draw in a crucial pool B match of the 11th FIH men's hockey World Cup on Saturday.
Watched by a capacity crowd enjoying the warm and sunny conditions, the Dutch looked the better side for most of the game until the Germans began their fightback midway through the second session.
It was the veteran Teun de Nooijer who masterminded both the Dutch goals. He first set up Matthijis Brouwver for the 38th minute goal and then schemed the move that led to a melee from which Rob Reckers flicked home to give the Dutch a 2-0 advantage in the 43rd.
Germany, however, surged back into contention when Christopher Zeller converted a 48th minute penalty corner and seven minutes later Moritz Fuerste swept home a quickly taken free-hit.
It was a typical all-European contest that had its share of bodyplay, swift ball rotation and pace. The Dutch looked sharper initially, but the German defence made few mistakes.
So much so that the Dutch could not convert any of their four penalty corners, the same number that the Germans forced but scored off one.
Germany now have four points from a win against India and Saturday's draw while the Dutch, having lost to Korea in their opening match and beaten South Africa in the next, have four from three encounters.
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