Netherlands beat England 4-3 to win bronze

The Netherlands scripted a remarkable come-from-behind victory to win the hockey World Cup bronze medal by defeating England 4-3 in a thrilling match in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Dutch, who were trailing 1-3 at the breather made a remarkable comeback by pumping in three goals in the second session to win their second bronze medal in the World Cup history.

The three-time champions had already won two silver earlier and with the bronze was their seventh World Cup medal.

This is also their first podium finish after their third place in 2002 when they beat South Korea in the bronze medal match.

Dutch captain Teun de Nooijer, who was outstanding in the field today, scored in his last World Cup match and equaled Pakistani Akhtar Rasool's record of most number of World Cup medals -- four -- having won one gold, one silver and one bronze earlier. Rasool has won three gold and one silver.

Teun de Nooijer (22nd), Taeke Taekema (48th), Klaas Vermeulen (56th) and Rogier Hofman (67th) scored for the Dutch. With his eighth goal, the star drag-flicker Taekema became the tournament top scorer.

He also became the joint second top scorer in the history of the World Cup with 21 goals, the same number as that of compatriot and current team manager Ties Kruize.

For England, who were playing in a World Cup medal match for the second time -- after their silver finish in 1986 at home-- Ashley Jackson struck twice (30th, 34th) while Alastair Brogdon scored the other goal in the 23rd minute.

European champions England were clearly the dominant side in the first half and they had exposed the Netherlands defensive frailties by making repeated raids into the striking circle and forcing six penalty corners in the first session from which they converted two while the Netherlands had none.

But it was the Dutch who took the lead in the 22nd minute through a superb goal from captain Teun de Nooijer whose deflection off a pass from Jeroen Hertzberger went past English custodian James Fair into the goal.

England just took a minute to equalise through Alastair Brogdon and then young penalty corner specialist Ashley Jackson pumped in two goals in quick succession to give his side a 3-1 by the breather.

Brogdon's reverse stick shot from the top of Dutch striking circle went into the goal after deflection from an opposition defender.

Jackson then converted England's fifth and sixth penalty corners in the 30th and 34th minutes, one hitting the top left corner of the net and the other a low shot sounding the board.

After the breather, the Dutch came back strongly and troubled the English defence repeatedly with captain de Nooijer and Teun Rohof outstanding with some fine moves mostly from the left flank.

The English defence wilted under pressure and drag flicker Taeke Taekema sounded the board from his side's first penalty corner in the 48th minute.

Eight minutes later the Dutch restored parity with Klaas Vermeulen's pass to a team-mate inside the striking circle deflected off a defender Alastair Wilson's stick for a goal.

Rogier Hofman scored the winner three minutes from the final hooter to give the Dutch a 4-3 win.