Day 2 Match reports: Evening
Spain men provide a blow to the qualification hopes of the host nation with a 6:4 win against Austria. Germany women were ruthless in front of goal, demolishing second placed Ukraine in Pool A. The German men also stepped up their game with victory over Switzerland.
Men Pool B: Italy 7 defeated South Africa 4
Italy captain Gianluca CIRILLI scored four second half goals in his teams defeat of South Africa. Massimo LANZANO scored Italy’s opening goal four minutes into the match with a field goal, and got a second goal shortly after a strike from Devis MAPELLI to make the score 3:0 at half time. Two CIRILLI strikes in the 24th minute took that score to 5:0, when South Africa got a deserved goal through Dale ISAAC. South Africa then pulled the score back to 5:4 with two goals from Michael BOTHA and another from ISSAC. Just as Italy looked likely to spiral out of control, CIRILLI put the game beyond all doubt with a field goal (35m) and a penalty corner (38m) to secure their first victory at the Samsung Men’s World Cup.
Women Pool A: Australia 5 defeated Italy 3
Australia managed to break away from a 1:1 half time score to pick up three valuable points in a 5:3 victory over Italy. Italy took the lead in the 11th minute through Claudia TORRETTA, but Australia were back on level terms a minute later with Megan RIVERS finding the net. They moved into a 3:1 lead shortly after the break with Gaye TARRANT and Fiona YOUNG scoring, but Paola LOMBARDI pulled a goal back with eight minutes to go. However, further goals from TARRANT and RIVERS had won the game before Francesca FAUSTINI scored a penalty corner in the final minute.
Women Pool A: Germany 10 defeated Ukraine 2
Germany were in spectacular form in the big match of the afternoon, producing a 10:2 victory over Ukraine. Both sides had 100% records before the match, and many saw Ukraine as one of the few teams with the potential to upset Germany. After ten minutes the upset looked even more realistic when Maryna KHILKO slammed home a penalty corner. Germany were not rattled, and were soon back on level terms thanks to the ever reliable Natascha KELLER. Germany had moved comfortably to 4:1, with strikes coming from Julia MUELLER, KELLER and Martina HEINLEIN. They continued to dominate after half time, moving to 7:1 before a belated response came from Bohdana SADOVA in the 31st minute. Germany still found time for three more goals, moving the score into double figures before the match finished.
Men Pool A: Germany 8 defeated Switzerland 2
Germany produced their best performance of the tournament so far with an excellent victory over Switzerland. The side dominated the play from the start, and scored some breathtaking team goals. Germany were six goals up before Switzerland got on the scoreboard, thanks to strikes from Moritz FUERSTE (3), Sebastian DRAGUHN, Oliver KORN and Benedikt SPERLING. Tobias HAUKE finished well before DRAGUHN scored his second of the game. Both of the Switzerland goals were scored by Tobias BERGMANN in open play. Germany play Australia tomorrow in their final group match.
Men Pool A: Australia 5 defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1
Australia kept alive their slim hopes of a semi final place with a comprehensive victory over Trinidad & Tobago. Goals from Mark HARRIS (2) and Jason BLACK had provided them with a 3:0 score that they never looked likely to lose, even after Mickel PIERRE found the net in the 27th minute. The Aussies moved three goals clear once again after a strike from their captain Jonathan STEBBINGS, and Matthew HOTCHKIS made it 5:1 with a well taken penalty corner. Australia will now have to somehow beat the unbeatable Germans tomorrow and hope that other results go their way.
Women Pool B: Austria 5 defeated South Africa 0
South Africa were outplayed by an Austria team well encouraged by a large home crowd, leaving their opponents rooted to the bottom of Pool B. Despite only being one goal down at half time (Carolin KORPER 15m PC), South Africa never looked likely to get anything from the match. Austria punished South Africa in the second half, with four goals from four different players. Annemarie FAIL’s open play strike was followed up by goals from Irene BALEK, Monika SPECJAL and another from Carolin KORPER.
Women Pool A: Scotland 5 defeated Czech Republic 1
Scotland produced a performance to be proud with a 5:1 victory over Czech Republic, which leaves them currently in third place in Pool A at the end of Match Day 2. The match, though not especially bad tempered, saw five players receive yellow cards – Karolina BORSKA, Lenka BRTVOVA and Marketa MATEJOVSKA all ended up in the sin bin for Czech Republic, with Catriona SEMPLE and Helen WALKER the same for Scotland. The Scottish girls had secured a 3:0 lead by half time, thanks to goals from Kath GRAY, Vikki BUNCE and Julie BRYCE. Czech Republic scored immediately after half time through Lucie JIRIKOVA, but Scotland completed a comfortable victory with strikes from Catriona SEMPLE and a second goal for GRAY.
Men Pool B: Spain 6 defeated Austria 4
The final match of the day was an end-to-end thriller, with Spain coming out as the eventual winners due to late strikes from Oriol FREIXA and captain Eduardo AGUILAR. The match was watched by a large Austrian crowd, who got exactly what they came to see when Peter PROKSCH scored from a well taken penalty corner just four minutes into the game. Spain’s equaliser on 12 minutes came from an AGUILAR penalty stroke, but Austria were soon in front again thanks to the prolific Michael KORPER, who scored goals in the 13th and 14th minutes. At 3:1, many thought it would be difficult for Spain to bounce back, but did so in true style. Miguel DELAS provided some hope with a field goal five minutes before half time. On 27 minutes the goal of the game came from Oriol FREIXA who scored a dramatic diving goal after a sensational pass from AGUILAR. It was AGUILAR who gave Spain the lead in the 31st minute, but a dramatic Austria equaliser came from the stick of Fabian RINGLER four minutes from time before Spain ran out 6:4 winners.
