AMSTELVEEN,Netherlands : Argentina ended the Netherlands’ run of four successive women’s FIH World Cup titles by beating the co-hosts 3-1 in a penalty shootout after Saturday’s final ended 1-1 in regulation time.
The victory gave Argentina their third World Cup title and avenged defeats by the Dutch in the 2022 final and the Tokyo Olympics gold-medal match.
The Netherlands took the lead in the 30th minute through Yibbi Jansen, one of the world’s leading drag-flickers, but Argentina captain Maria Granatto levelled in the 54th minute from a rebound after her team’s eighth penalty corner.
With neither side able to find a winner, the match went to a shootout. Marijn Veen scored for the Netherlands, while Pien Sanders and Felice Albers missed their attempts.
Victoria Granatto, Brisa Bruggesser and Sofia Cairo converted for Argentina, while Zoe Diaz had a goal disallowed following a referral.
Argentina had previously beaten the Netherlands in the World Cup finals in 2002 and 2010.
The Dutch, nine-times champions, had reached the final after edging Belgium in a dramatic semifinal, while Argentina defeated Australia by the same one-goal margin in the other semifinal.
Belgium claimed third place by beating Australia 1-0 in a closely contested playoff.
