CHANDIGARH (India), Feb 3: Three early goals helped the Netherlands to a comfortable 4-1 victory over New Zealand in the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup field hockey tournament on Tuesday.

Lucas Judge set up the opening goal for Bob Voogd after two minutes and then added a second for the European champion just five minutes later.

Netherlands made it 3-0 in the 11th minute with their first penalty corner of the game, Wouter Jolie beating New Zealand goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex with an angled shot.

With the match largely under control, the Dutch team allowed more time and space to New Zealand, who were unable to exploit their first penalty corner in the 27th minute.

New Zealand turned up the pressure after the break and were rewarded when Nicolas Wilson dodged past defender Wouter Jolie to score. Experienced Dutchman Floris Evers put the result beyond doubt, though, with Netherlands’ fourth goal in the 60th minute.

The Dutch team now have seven points from their three games in the invitational tournament, which ends on Feb 9

In another match of the tournament hosts India beat Olympic champions Germany 2-0 with goals coming through Dilip Tirkey (3rd minute) and Prabhjot Singh (56).—AP