Morton double as GB men come back to draw with the Dutch

Great Britain 2 (2) 

Morton (55’, FG; 59’, PC) 

Netherlands 2 (2) 

Wortelboer (44’, FG);  van Dam (52’, FG) 

With temperatures on the pitch reaching the high 30 degrees, the top two teams in the world rankings played out an enthralling encounter in Pool A in Paris.  With both teams nullifying each other for large periods, all the goals came in the second half.  The Netherlands took a two goal lead through Wortelboer and van Dam, before two goals from Lee Morton in the fourth quarter tied up the game. 
 
The first 30 minutes remained goalless, with the Netherlands edging the possession stats with 62%, and marginally more circle entries at nine to GB’s six. 
 
In the opening quarter both teams moved the ball around the pitch well looking to create an opening.  Chances were limited to some circle entries and half shots, with GB trying an aerial route into the Netherlands circle. It was the Dutch who earned a couple of penalty corners late on, but GB’s defenders blocked the drag flicks and prevented any real chances. 

Quarter two followed a similar pattern with few chances and both teams trying to find a clear-cut opening.  GB’s best chance went to Gareth Furlong after his low drag flick was saved by the goalkeeper with his stick to the right.  At the other end the Netherlands forced two penalty corners, one of which required Ollie Payne to save with an outstretched kicker. 
 
The second half looked to be following a similar pattern.  Great Britain enjoyed their best period of sustained possession in the third quarter, until late when the Netherlands managed to make two half chances pay.   

On 44 minutes the ball was passed to van Dam whose initial turn and shot at the top of the circle, was saved by Payne with his kicker.  The rebound went to the right hand edge of the circle and was picked by Wortelboer who turned and shot on the reverse finding the inside of the right hand post, just squeezing it past Payne’s outstretched left kicker.  1-0 to the Netherlands. 
 
They made it 2-0, again seemingly with a half chance. Out of nowhere again the Dutch slipped a ball through to the top of the circle, this time Wortelboer was the provider. His push toward the right hand side of goal, was met by van Dam who ghosted in on the right post to deflect the ball past Payne. 
 
With only five minutes left in the fourth quarter and time running out, Great Britain produced an amazing come back.  First a piece of individual brilliance from Lee Morton as he received the ball on the left hand goal line, cut inside on his open stick and unleashing a powerful strike which beat Blaak inside the left hand post. 

Its was Morton again in the final minute who was on hand to secure the draw from a penalty corner after a GB shot into the circle hit a Dutch foot.  The penalty corner was slipped right from the stop, but a mistrapped pass broke to Morton in the centre of goal, without hesitation he fired past the Dutch goalkeeper make it 2-2. 

It was a breathless end to an intense and high quality game of hockey. 
 
GB men’s next match is on Thursday against host’s France at 11.45 am UK time. 
 
Feeling inspired by the hockey in Paris? Get involved and pick up a stick this summer, there is plenty on offer for you.