New Delhi: Penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema fired the tournament's first hat-trick as the Netherlands scored an emphatic 3-0 victory over Argentina in a pool A match of the Hockey World Cup here on Monday.
Three-time champion the Netherlands began their campaign with a bang as Taekema converted three penalty corners in the 14th, 35th and 61st minute.
Taekema was the top-scorer in the last World Cup with 11 goals and showed his class on Monday. His hat-trick was the 50th in World Cup history.
Taekema now has scored 15 goals in World Cup matches and is only two goals short of equalling his compatriot Floris Jan Bovelander's record of most number of World Cup goals.
The Netherlands goalkeeper Guus Vogels, who is playing his last World Cup, was outstanding, making some brilliant saves.
Argentina got as many as six penalty corners but Vogels showed his experience as he stood valiantly, deflecting the powerful strikes. Argentina's star drag flicker Pedro Ibarra time and again failed to hit past Vogels.
The Dutch team began attacking right from the start making repeated forays in the Argentine citadel.
Argentina also came up with some good moves but the strong Dutch defence kept them at bay.
The Netherlands forward line made a quick move and earned a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Taekema dragged the ball in the right corner of the goalpost for his first goal. He scored the second one in a similar hit as the Netherlands led 2-0 in the first half.
Argentina increased the pace of attack in the second half but the Netherlands defence was up to the task.
Taekema finished it in style with another clean hit past Juan Tomas Espinosa.
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