Holland enter hockey final at Olympics

PARIS: Top-ranked Netherlands advanced to the men’s hockey final at the Paris Olympics Tuesday thrashing Spain 4-0 following a tough Group stage match against the same opposition.

The Netherlands will appear in their first Olympic final since London 2012, and have a chance to end their 24-year gold medal drought. Spain will get their first chance to compete for a medal since 2008 in the bronze medal match. Jip Janssen opened the scoring with a converted penalty stroke in the 12th minute after keeper Luis Calzado kicked the legs out from under forward Tjep Hoedemakers while going for the ball.

Spain, who lost 5-3 to the Dutch in their Pool A match, will get their first chance to compete for a medal since 2008 in the bronze medal match. Netherlands defender Jip Janssen opened the scoring with a converted penalty stroke in the 12th minute after goalkeeper Luis Calzado kicked the legs out from under forward Tjep Hoedemakers while going for the ball.

Captain Thierry Brinkman got the second in the 20th after collecting a rebound off Spain defender Ignacio Rodriguez’s stick and blasting the ball into the net for his first goal of the Paris Games.

Captain Thierry Brinkman netted the second goal in the 20th minute after collecting a rebound. Dutch forward Thijs van Dam sank his shot with plenty of space in the circle after two Spanish defenders collided with each other trying to collect a deep pass by the Dutch skipper.