Day 4 Match Reports: Morning

Austria women and Canada men took seventh place with wins today here in Vienna. Canada women and Switzerland men claimed the 9th places with victories. Canada women defeated Italy on penalty strokes, with Switzerland men completing their win over Italy in the same fashion. In the 11th / 12^th play offs, South Africa men beat Trinidad & Tobago 4:2 and Czech Republic women secured a 5:1 win over South Africa.

Women 9th-10th Play-off

Canada 2 defeated Italy 2 (3:2 APS)

Canada conceded a Francesca FAUSTINI penalty corner goal after just one minute, but fought back to win the match on penalty strokes, securing 9^th place in process. Robin LESLIE-SPENCER equalised for her team in the 14^th minute, and Canada captain Andrea RUSHTON gave her side the lead four minutes after the break. A minute later the scores were level with Stella GIROTTI’s well taken field goal. With no further goals, the match went straight to penalties. It looked good for Italy after the first efforts, with FAUSTINI scoring and RUSHTON failing to convert, but Italy could only score one of their next three penalties with Canada converting their next three to get the victory. Canadian Goalkeeper Azelia LIU’s was the hero, thanks to a brilliant save from Paola LOMBARDI to seal the win.

Men 11th-12th Play-off

South Africa 4 defeated Trinidad & Tobago 2

South Africa were 4:2 victors in a close match between two teams trying to avoid finishing in last place of the competition. It was clinical penalty corner finishing by South Africa that guided them to victory, with all the goals coming from imaginative set piece routines. Captain Sean Jackson opened the scoring in the fifth minute, with Micheal BOTHA and Iain EVANS adding to the score in the 11th and 13th minute respectively. Trinidad made the half time score 3:1 with an excellent field goal converted by Akim TOUSSAINT. Another Sean JACKSON goal five minutes after half time made the score 4:1, but a 34^th minute strike from Mickel PIERRE gave T&T a glimmer of hope. However, South Africa were in control and took 11^th place in the tournament.

Men 9th-10th Play-off

Switzerland 3 defeated Italy 3 (3:1 APS)

The second penalty competition in three matches took place after Switzerland and Italy finished the match level at 3:3, with the Swiss taking the victory. Switzerland were leading 2:0 at half time with goals from Ulrich BERGMANN (10m FG) and Fabian WULLSCHLEGER 12m PC), but Italy drew level thanks to goals from Gianluca CIRILLI (28m FG) and Massimo LANZANO (34m FG). WULLSCHLEGER put Switzerland ahead once again seconds later, but a final minute equaliser came from a penalty comer from the inspirational LANZANO. In the penalty stroke competition, both teams scored with their first efforts, and missed their next two. Michael KLOTER then put his side 2:1 up before LANZANO dramatically missed the target, .leaving Switzerland needed to score their next penalty stroke to win. Fabian WULLSCHLEGER scored the decisive goal, giving his side 9^th place in the men’s Samsung Indoor World Cup.

Women 11th-12th Play-off

Czech Republic 5 defeated South Africa 1

South Africa women could not repeat the performance of their men’s side earlier in the day, crashing to a 5:1 defeat against Czech Republic. South Africa played well in the first half, and held onto the lead that Carla BOTHA (2m FG) gave them for 19 long minutes. Czech Republic looked like a different team in the second half, and took South Africa apart with three field goals, a penalty corner and a penalty stroke. Barbora POLCAROVA scored just one minute after half time, and a minute later Marketa MATEJOVSKA’s penalty corner moved them into a 2:1 lead. In the 30^th minute Czech Republic were awarded a penalty stroke. Lucie JIRIKOVA scored, giving a major blow to South Africa’s hopes of getting the result that they wanted. Czech Republic scored two late field goals on their way to victory, through Karolina BORSKA and Marketa MATEJOVSKA’s second of the match.

Women 7th-8th play off

Austria 3 defeated Scotland 1

Austria beat Scotland 3:1 to claim 7^th place, despite arguably Scotland’s best performance of the women’s Samsung Indoor World Cup. The result was particularly sad for Scotland captain Alison RAMSEY, who has reportedly played her last international match at the age of 47. The scores were tied 0:0 at half time in what could be described as a cagey affair, but the game opened up dramatically in the second period after Irene BALEK’s penalty corner found the Scottish net. Scotland worked hard to find an equaliser, but Carolin KORPER scored a penalty corner with two minutes left of play to increase the pressure on their opponents. Scotland hit back immediately with Catriona SEMPLE’s field goal, and in a last ditch attempt to get a equaliser replaced keeper Carmin Dow with an outfield player. The tactical decision backfired, with Carolin KORPER scoring into an open net to confirm Austria’s 7^th place finish.

Men 7th-8th play off

Canada 5 defeated Australia 4

Canada goalkeeper Hari KANT proved to be the hero for his country in his last ever international match. With Canada leading 5:4, Australia won a penalty corner with two seconds left to play, but KANT pulled off a brilliant save to guarantee his team 7th place. Australia had taken a 2:0 lead early in the match thanks to goals from Jonathan STEBBINGS and Mark HARRIS, but Ken PEREIRA pulled a goal back to give Canada hope. Wayne FERNANDEZ scored a superb field goal with his reverse stick to level the scores in the 22^nd minutes, and seven minutes later Jonathan ROBERTS gave Canada the lead. Nine minutes from the end Mark HARRIS scored for Australia to make the score 3:3, but two Canadian goals in two minutes from Ken PEREIRA and Cregan JOSEPH gave Canada a good lead. Australia replaced their goalkeeper with outfield player Simon BEATON, and it was he who scored Australia’s fourth goal in the 40^th minute, moments before KANT’s heroics in the dying seconds.