ARG overcome NED in shoot-out to clinch third Women's Hockey WC title

Argentina snapped co-host the Netherlands' dream run of four consecutive women's FIH World Cup titles by winning the crown, defeating the Dutch side 3-1 in penalty shoot-out after both the teams were locked 1-1 at end of the regulation time here on Saturday.

Argentina, thus, avenged their last World Cup and Tokyo Olympics final defeat to win their third title.

The first goal was scored in the 30th minute by Netherlands Yibbi Jansen, considered the world's number one drag-flicker.

Argentina received eight penalty corners in the match, and captain Maria Granatto converted the eighth penalty corner to equalise on a rebound in the 54th minute, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.

In the shootout Marjin Veen scored for the Netherlands while Pien Sanders and Felice Albers missed.

For Argentina Victoria Granatto, Brisa Bruggesser and Sofia Cairo scored while Zoe Diaz's goal was disallowed on referral..

Earlier, Argentina had won the title by defeating the Netherlands in 2002 and 2010.

The clash was a rematch of four years in the making after the two sides met in the last World Cup final in 2022, where the Dutch prevailed 3-1.

These teams also played the gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, with the Netherlands winning with the exact same scoreline.

The nine-time champion the Netherlands came through a dramatic battle against Belgium surviving a late disallowed goal to win the semifinal by merely one goal.

The second semifinal was similarly close with Argentina defeating Australia with the same margin.

Earlier, Belgium finished third defeating Australia by 1-0 in a hard fought third place play-off match.

The first 15 minutes were evenly contested, with both teams testing each other.

The Netherlands launched their first attack in the eighth minute when Marleen Jochems delivered the ball into the circle, but no one was there to intercept it. Two minutes later, Sanders entered the circle again, but the Argentine defenders cleared the ball safely.