3-1: Sweet defeat of the women's team, which will fight for European bronze

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Exclusive: Spain falls into European semifinals against Netherlands because of Yibbi Jansen

An unforgettable semifinal marked by penalties-corner

Hockey grass, a constantly evolving sport, remains faithful to its essence, where strategy Play a crucial role and penaltis-corner They can define results. In a semifinal loaded with emotions, the Spanish women's team, known as the Redsticks, faced the formidable team of the Netherlands, which has dominated women's hockey worldwide. Despite showing great performance, Spain lost for a forceful 3-1, a result strongly influenced by the stellar figure of Yibbi Jansen, who scored the three decisive goals.

The day began with a surprising Gol by Patricia Álvarezwho managed to open the score at 4 minutes, leaving the Netherlands, champion of the last two Olympics and European, in an awkward situation. Despite this, the strength of the Dutch player became palpable after the first quarter, where her team, disoriented by the Spanish tactical deployment, tried to find her rhythm.

“The absence of goals in the first quarter is a testimony of the excellent Spanish defensive performance”

Throughout the first half, Spain maintained its advantage thanks to a solid defense that limited the opponent's opportunities. However, the situation changed dramatically in the second quarter. Two consecutive penalties-corner in favor of the Netherlands allowed Jansen to show his ability, marking precisely and quickly. His first goal came from a powerful shot that Clara Pérez, the Spanish goalkeeper, could not stop, followed by another goal only minutes later. These two moves put Spain in a difficult position, forcing it to fight the current.

The closure of an exciting encounter

Despite the pressure exerted by the rival team, Spain continued to fight. The third quarter became a more defensive game, with Redsticks evaluating their options while the Netherlands sought to increase its advantage. The lack of responses to the adversary strategy plays became evident, which led to a third penalty-corner converted by Jansen, thus closing his personal triplet and the final marker.