Another day of entertaining hockey draws to a close as there is more misery for England, wins for both Argentina’s sides and of course, the USA bandwagon keeps rolling. Find out about all the games below.
Women’s Pool B: USA 5-0 China.
A hat-trick from Katie O’Donnell helped fire the USA to their second win in three games and gave Craig Parnham’s side a real chance of making the semi-finals. It was a splendid all round display as once again the USA’s energy and movement caused their opponents problems. O’Donnell netted her first after four minutes, applying the finish to some good approach work from Michelle Vitesse and five minutes later the provider became one of the scorers making it 2-0 with a fierce strike.
O’Donnell scored again, showing off her predatory instinct in front of goal to fire home a cross from Paige Selenski and she repeated the trick with her third, getting a touch to Rachel Dawson’s shot to make it 4-0. The USA were not done there and Kelsey Kolojechick rounded off the scoring with minutes left on the clock to keep the USA well in contention with two pool games remaining.
Men’s Pool B: Argentina 3-1 New Zealand:
A hat-trick of penalty corners from Gonzalo Pelliat in the second half secured a vital win for Argentina, keeping them in touch with the Netherlands at the top of the pool and well in the mix for a semi-final berth.
Simon Child was unlucky to see his effort come back off the post in the first half with Juan Manuel Vivaldi beaten but in truth, Argentina defended Vivaldi’s D very well, allowing little to pass through and threaten.
The game was scoreless at the break but Pelliat broke the deadlock in the 44th minute only for Shea McAleese to set up Jenness for the equaliser five minutes later. Pelliat scored another corner in the 51s minute and then secured the points with yet another drag flick seven minutes from time.
Women’s Pool B: South Africa 4-1 England.
Women’s Pool B Germany 0-3 Argentina.
Argentina drew level with the USA at the top of the pool after sweeping aside the challenge of an out of sorts German side. Las Leonas took the lead inside the first five minutes with a penalty corner from Silvina D’Elia, her fourth of the competition. Germany struggled to break the Argentina defence down and three minutes before the break they fell further behind through a Noel Barrionuevo penalty corner which the goalkeeper Barbara Vogel would be disappointed to see slip through her legs. After the break, Carla Rebecchi dashed any hopes of a German revival with a third goal from close range in the 45th minute. With two minutes left to play, Germany’s misery was complete as Lisa Altenburg beat two players only to see her effort thud against the post. Germany’s clash with the USA on Sunday now looks like it will decide if Jamilon Mulders’ team have a chance of making the semi-finals.
Men’s Pool B: Korea 0-0 South Africa.
A goalkeeping master class from Korea’s Lee Myungho ensured the scores stayed level and both sides took away a point in an entertaining clash between two well-matched sides. The first half took a while to get going and there were few chances of note, but in the second half the contest really came to life.
Korea thought they’d taken the lead through Jang Jonghyun but South Africa referred the decision to the video umpire and successfully had the goal overturned as it had clipped Jonty Robinson and was deemed dangerous.
Then Myungho took centre stage denying Lloyd Norris Jones and Wade Paton before watching on as Justin Reid-Ross spurned a late chance to win it. Both sides will feel they deserved at least a point but a draw helps neither of them in the context of the pool standings.
Men’s Pool B: Germany 0-1 Netherlands.
Jeroen Hertzberger’s first half strike settled what was arguably the game of the tournament so far as the hosts held off a strong challenge from old foes Germany in front of a noisy and enthusiastic crowd.
Holland reacted to the rousing rendition of their national anthem from the fans by coming out the stronger of the two sides. Nicolas Jacobi was busy early on make a series of excellet blocks to keep the scores level. He pulled off a stunning piece of goalkeeping to deny Billy Bakker and then to keep out Robbert Kemperman’s follow up. It didn’t take long, however for the deadlock to be broken. Jelle Galema did well to set up Hertzberger who made no mistake.
The second half swung from end to end as the sides searched for that crucial next goal. Germany squandered a series of penalty corners and then at the other end Martin Haener’s stick fell victim to the full force of Mink Van Der Weerden’s power as the Dutchman’s penalty corner broke Haener’s stick in half. In the confusion that ensued the Dutch played on but Jacobi was alive to the danger and made another fine save.
Germany had a penalty corner on the stroke of full time to level the scores but a poor trap on the top of the D proved costly and to an almighty roar from the crowd, the ball went wide. The Dutch march on towards the semi-finals, their 100% record still intact.
The Top of the D 