Wins for Germany, the Netherlands and Argentina as well as another excellent performance from Craig Parnham’s USA, find out what happened in all the games on day four at the World Cup.
Women’s Pool B: South Africa 1-3 Germany.
It was some way off the best Germany are capable of, but they put away their chances to take their first win of the competition against South Africa. A brace from Marie Mavers and a goal in the 50th minute from Kristina Hillmann were enough for Jamilon Mulders’ side whilst Shelley Russell struck a consolation for her team.
South Africa threw caution to the wind and went all out attack, hoping to catch their illustrious opponents cold, but a series of missed chances proved their undoing and it was Germany who took the lead in the 19th minute. Jana Teschke played the ball in from deep and Mavers got a good deflection on it to deceive the goalkeeper. Mulders, the German coach was extremely animated at half time, not even waiting to reach the dressing room to hand out some instructions and his team stepped up a gear after the break. Hillmann forced home the second after a goalmouth scramble at a penalty corner. With six minutes remaining, South Africa seemed to have handed themselves a lifeline. Kathleen Taylor broke away and got into the D. Her cross from near the baseline fell to Russell who calmly slotted home. The cushion was restored just a minute later, however. Julia Muller played the ball in to Teschke who turned and shot on the backhand. Mavers touched it in from just in front of the goalkeeper.
Germany’s tournament is off and running, but coach Mulders will be demanding plenty of improvement.
Women’s Pool B: England 0-3 China.
Men’s Pool B: South Africa 0-5 New Zealand.
A hat-trick from Andy Hayward was more than enough to give the Blacksticks their second consecutive win of the competition as they swept South Africa aside. The game was effectively over as a contest within the first 17 minute as New Zealand raced into a 3-0 lead. Simon Child opened the scoring, pulling down a high pass on the top of the D and giving Rassie Pieterse no chance with a fierce strike. Hayward bagged goals two and three from penalty corners leaving Fabian Gregory’s team a real mountain to climb. Austin Smith tried to pull one back but could only crash an effort onto the crossbar whilst at the other end, Child smashed one into Pieterse’s helmet before Shea Macaleese scored form a spectacular deflection and Hayward bagged his hat-trick.
Men’s Pool B: Germany 0-1 Argentina.
Manuel Brunets goal four minutes before half time upset the form book and gave Argentina an excellent victory over reigning champions Germany.
Argentina adopted their usual all-action attacking style, breaking forwards in numbers and at great pace whenever they won the ball from Germany. The contest was quite even until Brunet’s excellent goal. Agustin Mazzilli found Brunet on the baseline. He headed towards goal and drew the goalkeeper, Nicolas Jacobi. With the No1 trying to cut out the cross, Brunet instead lifted it over the goalkeeper’s shoulder and just inside the far post to score a wonderful individual goal.
There were plenty of talking points in the second half and Juan Manuel Vivaldi was lucky to remain on the pitch after a flashpoint with Christopher Ruhr. Ben Wess spurned a great chance to level the scores in the second half but it was not enough and the Germans could find no way through the stubborn Leones’ defence.
Women’s Pool B: USA 2-2 Argentina.
The USA produced another splendid display to pick up a point from world champions Argentina. Kelsey Kolojejchick struck her second goal of the tournament six minutes from time, just three minutes after Luciana Aymar thought she had given her side a decisive lead. The game was already underway when Las Leonas’ coach Carlos Retegui completed his dash to Greenfields from the Kyocera Stadium where he had been leading the men’s side to a win over Germany. As they were against England in their first match, the USA were bright and inventive, creating little pockets of space and threatening the Argentina goal. Carla Rebecchi went close for Las Leonas, striking the woodwork and Jackie Kintzer pulled off a series of very good saves. At the other end, Kathleen Sharkey thought she had given her team the lead but the video umpire ruled her effort out. Undeterred, Katie Reinprecht came up with a lovely backhand strike to give the USA the lead. Just before the break Las Leonas drew level through Silvina D’Elia’s mis-hit penalty corner. The second half was greeted with a torrential downpour but it could not dampen the creative genius of Luciana Aymar who produced some magic to get her side into the lead. Craig Parnham’s side are made of stern stuff these days and it was perhaps not a surprise to see them draw level with Kolojejchick’s scrambled finish. The Stars and Stripes are now unbeaten in two games and are proving to be the tournament’s surprise package.
Men’s Pool B: Netherlands 2-1 Korea.
Robbert Kemperman’s goal in the last minute broke Korean hearts and ensured the vociferous home crowd went home happy after seeing the Dutch pick up their second win of the competition in dramatic fashion.
Kemperman struck with seconds left on the clock meaning Korea went home empty handed but they had played their part in an enthralling encounter. Nam Hyunwoo silenced the home crowd with a fourth minute penalty corner and it looked for a while like they would hold onto that lead. Lee Myungho in goal did well to keep out Billy Bakker and denied Seve Van Ass but a goal was not far away. It came via a penalty stroke from Jeroen Hertzberger in the 21st minute. The Dutch increased the pressure and had it not been for Myungho in goal they could easily have been out of sight at the break. Both sides went after a second goal in the second half but their efforts were in vain. Late in the game You Hyosik found himself one-one-one with Jaap Stockmann, a great chance to win the match but the goalkeeper pulled of a great save. That allowed Kemperman his chance to win the match and ensured Korea are still hunting for their first points of the tournament.
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