Lausanne, Switzerland, July 2: Emotions ran high on the second day of action at the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup. Head Coach to Chile, Sergio Vigil fought back tears as his team lined up for their first ever World Cup appearance; Eva de Goede was visibly moved as her dream of a fourth World Cup came true, despite months away from the game through injury.
On the pitch there was also no lack
of drama and emotion. New Zealand returned to international action with a solid
draw against China. Olivia Merry was on the scoresheet, demonstrating that she
has lost none of her fire power that we saw in previous pre-Covid years. The
second match saw Chile make their debut on the World Cup stage. Although the
Diablas lost to Die Danas, they won a lot of fans – both for their pacy play
and for the passion shown by the team and their animated Head Coach. The next
match saw a masterclass in penalty corner striking from Agustina Gorzelany as
Argentina broke down a resilient Korea defence to start their campaign in some
style.
Reigning champions Netherlands got
off to a cracking start as they put paid to gallant Ireland, two of the goals
scored by Frederique Matla from penalty strokes. The final match of the day saw
the re-emergence of Australia and Japan, both of whom have not figured much on
the international stage in recent months. It took until the 56th minute for a
breakthrough to come as Australia finally made goalmouth pressure count.
New Zealand vs China
The first quarter saw these two
teams testing each other out but with no goal scored in that period of play.
China came the closest when Zheng Jiali was in a perfect position to shoot
after a good piece of swift passing had created space. She hit the ball as she
was falling off balance and the shot flew harmlessly high.
For New Zealand, this was the
first taste of international action – with the exception of matches against
Oceania neighbours Australia – since the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, so it was
understandable that the team began tentatively.
The second half saw the Black
Sticks take the lead through Rose Tynan. In just her fourth senior match, Tynan
showed skill and composure to receive the ball, turn and transfer the ball to
her reverse and then fire past Liu Ping in the China goal.
At half-time China Head Coach
Alyson Annan called for her team to win penalty corners. The team answered and
three minutes into the second half, Zhang Ying sent a hard shot low into the
New Zealand goal past Grace O'Hanlon. The ball took a deflection on the way,
meaning the keeper was caught off-guard.
China added to the scoreline
through a second penalty corner. This time it was Gu Bingfeng who sent the shot
into the same area. Her shot was hard, accurate and just high enough to evade
O'Hanlon's outstretched foot.
The momentum swung back and forth
between the two teams but it was New Zealand who scored the all-important
equalising goal in the 48th minute. Olivia Merry continued to show why she is a
feared striker as she sent a penalty corner flying into the China goal.
The scores remained at 2-2 for
the rest of the match, despite some close calls for both teams.
Player of the Match Hope Ralph
(NZL) said she and her teammates were delighted to be at the World Cup and glad
to get a point on the board and a game under their belt.
Germany vs Chile
Just how much this match meant to
World Cup debutants Chile were obvious from the tears rolling down the face of
Head Coach Sergio Vigil as the national anthem was being sung.
However, it was Germany who got
off to the perfect start. A rocket of a reverse stick shot from Pauline Heinz
gave Germany a 1-0 lead against World Cup debutants Chile in the first
half.
The South American side got off
to a bright start putting the German defence under pressure. However, Germany
gradually worked their way into the game and when Heinz pulled the trigger it
was a reward for some good pressure on the Chile circle.
Germany doubled their lead in the
22nd minute when four swift passes moved the ball from their defensive circle
to the back of Claudia Schuler's net. Charlotte Stapenhorst was the scorer,
coolly netting the ball but the passes – particularly the pass to Stapenhorst
from Pia Maertens – that led to the moment were equally sublime.
Chile struck back in the 27th
minute when Las Diablas won two consecutive penalty corners. Denise Losada-Krimerman
made no mistake as she rattled the German backboard with a well-struck shot.
The third quarter saw Germany
really pile on the pressure as they sought to re-establish a two goal cushion.
Dogged defence by Chile kept the higher ranked team at bay until the 44th
minute when Germany employed a clever routine at a penalty corner to score
their third goal. Anne Schroeder scored after Nike Lorenz had disguised the
pass as she slipped the ball back to Schroeder, who had injected the ball.
A counter-attack of the
highest quality saw Germany extend their lead to 4-1. Chile had won a
hard-earned penalty corner which had been broken down by the fast German
defence. The ball was quickly transferred up the pitch and Player of the Match
Charlotte Stapenhorst was on hand to slot it home.
Speaking after the game,
Charlotte Stapenhorst said: 'Chile had a really really good start. We didn't
know what to expect of them so we took a look at them in the first quarter. We
had some things to change after half time. We had some constructive comments
and made some changes and they were really effective.'
Argentina vs Korea
Argentina got off to the best of
starts when Agustina Gorzelany rifled home a penalty corner in the second
minute. After that start, Argentina may have expected to race ahead but,
despite the domination enjoyed by Las Leonas, Korea's tight marking kept the
score at a narrow 1-0.
In the second quarter, Belen
Succi was called into action several times as Korea began to create some space
and put together some attacking moves. Cheon Eunbi was looking dangerous in the
Argentina circle but her attempt was smothered by an ever-alert Succi.
Despite Korea's increased
attacking momentum in the second quarter, it was Argentina who found the goal
for a second time. Gorzelany was again able to show her immense ability from
penalty corner routines as she sent the ball with pinpont accuracy and
plenty of power high into the Korea goal. Two minutes later and Victoria
Granatto was able to tip in the ball for a third goal. The initial penalty
corner was saved and then Maria Granatto sent the ball goalwards and her sister
got the final touch.
In the third quarter Korea again
set up a resilient defence but without really troubling the Argentina defence
to any real extent. In an almost mirror reflection of the previous quarter,
Argentina made pressure count in the final minutes of the quarter. A penalty corner
rebounded to Julieta Jankunas, who niftily lifted it past Lee Jinmin in the
Korea goal.
The fourth quarter was about
damage limitation for Korea. Lee pulled off a magnificent save from a dangerous
shot from Jankunas and her colleagues were equally determined not to let any
further goals in.
The Player of the Match was
Argentina's dynamic midfielder Maria Granatto. She said the team were feeling
happy and confident at the moment. Korea's captain Seo Jungeon said her team
had been nervous ahead of this match but, on the whole, they were happy with
their performance.
Netherlands vs Ireland
There were tears for Eva de Goede
at the start of the match between Netherlands and Ireland, with the midfielder
overwhelmed at being back for a home World Cup after being out of the game for
so long with an ACL injury. It was a rematch of the 2018 World Cup final and,
like that match, Netherlands dominated possession from the get-go but, by the
end of the first quarter it was still goalless.
The breakthrough came early in
the second quarter. A foul on Maria Verschoor led to a penalty stroke, which
Frederique Matla had no hesitation in dispatching past Ayeisha McFerran in the
Ireland goal. At the end of the quarter Eva de Goede came close to doubling the
lead when a clever penalty corner routine left the midfielder with a chance to
shoot. Her shot flew over the goal.
To the delight of the home
spectators in the Wagener Stadium, Netherlands doubled their lead in the 35th
minute when Yibbi Jansen scored from a penalty corner with a powerful drag
flick that flew between McFerran and the post player. The Dutch celebrated but
two minutes later Ireland stunned their oponents and the crowd when they scored
from their own penalty corner. Roisin Upton getting the final touch that sent
the ball past Anne Veenendaal in the Netherlands' goal.
The tempo increased as Oranje
tried to recover their two goal buffer and the stadium erupted when Sabine
Plonissen scored her first senior goal - another beautifully taken penalty
corner drag flick. Netherlands fourth goal was scored again by Frederique Matla
from a penalty stroke. Lidewij Welten intercepted the ball and slipped it to
Felice Albers. Albers ran at the goal and McFerran had little option than to
bring the player down. Welten's penalty stroke was precisely placed in the
corner of the goal.
In the fourth quarter the Dutch
extended their lead to 5-1 when Maria Verschoor showed her skill and agility to
dance past the defence and slot the ball into the goal. There was plenty more
for the Irish defence to do in the remaining minutes of the game but no further
goals.
Player of the Match Sabina
Plonissen (NED) said: 'We had a great start and we are happy to begin the
tournament. We have trained hard so we were glad to win. We thought at half
time that we needed to increase the tempo and put more pressure on Ireland. We
did that and the goals came. I have never played in front of a crowd like
that.'
Australia vs Japan
Japan started the first quarter
very strongly and won a series of penalty corners against their higher ranked
opponents. Towards the final five minutes momentum shifted completely and it
was Australia who were peppering the Japanese goal with penalty corner
attempts. Despite all the circle activity, it remained goalless after 15
minutes.
Australia started the second
quarter in much the same vein as they finished the first, winning penalty
corners but then finding no way past a very strong Japanese defence.
As the match continued, it looked
more and more likely that the match was going to be the first goalless draw of
the competition. Both teams were defending like demons and hoping to strike on
the counter attack, but this approach led to stalemate with neither team able
to find a breakthrough.
With penalty corner attempts
getting into double figures for the Hockeyroos, it is obvious what Head Coach
Katrina Powell will be looking to improve before Australia take to the field
again.
The breakthrough finally came in
the 56th minute when Mariah Williams pounced on the ball after a confused melee
in the Japanese circle saw Mai Toriyama caught in posession just a metre from
her own goal. Williams got the final touch and her team mates erupted into
relieved celebrations. Japan's Head Coach Jude Menezes instantly pulled his
goalkeeper Eike Nakamura and Japan tried to make the most of an outfield player
advantage.
The game was put beyond all doubt
with just one minute left. Rosie Malone was fed the ball by Williams and with a
deft touch she steered the ball into an empty Japanese goal.
Player of the Match, Mariah
Williams (AUS) said: 'It was a good fight from the girls. we dug deep and
worked hard. We knew if we stuck to our processes, we could get the win.'
The action in the FIH Hockey
Women's World Cup continues on Sunday 3 July. At the Estadi Olympic de
Terrassa, Belgium and South Africa open their Pool D campaigns at 15:00. At
16:30, Pool B resumes as India and England face each other in the Wagener
Stadium in Amstelveen. Back in Spain at 18:00 Korea and Canada are in action,
while at 19:30 Germany face Netherlands in the Wagener Stadium.
2 July 2022 Results
Estadi Olimpic de Terrassa, Spain
Match #2
New Zealand 2, China 2
Player of the Match: Hope Ralph (NZL)
Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Wanri Venter (RSA), Maggie Giddens (USA -
video)
Wagener Stadium, Netherlands
Match #3
Germany 4, Chile 1
Player of the Match: Charlotte Stapenhorst (GER)
Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Emi Yamada (JPN), Annelize Rostron (RSA - Video)
Estadi Olimpic de Terrassa, Spain
Match #4
Argentina 4, Korea 0
Player of the Match: Maria Granatto (ARG)
Umpires: Michelle Meister (GER), Alison Keogh (IRL), Hannah Harrison (ENG -
video)
Wagener Stadium, Netherlands
Match #5
Netherlands 5, Ireland 1
Player of the Match: Sabine Plonissen (NED)
Umpires: Maggie Giddens (USA), Kang Hyun Young KOR), Laurine Delforge (BEL -
video)
Estadi Olimpic de Terrassa, Spain
Match #6
Australia 2, Japan 0
Player of the Match: Mariah Williams (AUS)
Umpires: Cookie Tan (SGP), Kelly Hudson (NZL) Sarah Wilson (SCO - video)
FIH Press release
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