Sports Bulletin Report
POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa):- Austria, Argentina, India and Germany have won their matches in the FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2022 at North West University Potchefstroom South Africa.
Austria beat Korea 1-0
Although a draw would have sufficed for them to continue to the quarter-finals, Korea started the game with a keen intent to win three points. However, it was Austria who had the first real attempt at goal, when Sabrina Hruby won a penalty corner. The ensuing shot from Helene Herzog was well saved by Kim Eunji but this was a signal that Austria were determined to finish the pool phase in style.
What followed was a game of back and forth hockey but with no goals to reward the efforts. Austria enjoyed the greater spells of possession but were unable to make the pressure count. Korea, for their part began to slow their game and sought to take the sting out of Austria’s attacking moves.
One of the best chances in the third quarter fell to Austria’s Isabella Klausbruckner as a searching ball was played into the Korea circle but Klausbruckner was unable to finish and the frustration was etched on her face.
As the third quarter counted down, the Korean side started to up the ante and a sense of urgency entered their passing. A penalty corner was fired over the Austrian cross bar and Austria found themselves needing to defend with commitment.
As the teams came out for the fourth quarter this was a match that could clearly go either way. Austria were playing with a structure and confidence that had been missing in their earlier pool matches. Korea, for their part, needed to play with more ambition as they lacked the edge to their attack necessary to break through the Austria defence.
The match was resolved in the 56th minute when Herzog found the back of the net after yet more good build-up play from Austria. The result left Korea dependent on the result between Argentina and Uruguay to discover if they had done enough to seal a plan in the quarter-finals. With Argentina winning 4-0, the Korea side were able to breathe a sigh of relief and begin preparations for a quarter-final.
Argentina beat Uruguay 4-0
Uruguay entered this match knowing they needed to either win, draw or not concede three goals in order to make the quarter-finals. For Argentina, this was a chance to seal top spot and prepare for the quarter-finals. It had all the ingredients for an exciting encounter between the two South American teams.
However, any hope that Uruguay had of making the final eight in their first appearance at this competition was dealt two swift blows in the opening quarter as both Sol Pagella and Valentina Raposo found the net. Pagella’s goal was an example of fabulous individual goals while Raposo made no mistake from a penalty stroke four minutes later.
Uruguay were not without their chances. Agustina Martinez had come close to giving her side the lead but Ana Dodorico in the Argentina goal was up to the challenge and cleared safely. Maria Adorno added a third in the 21st minute after a scramble in the circle saw the ball bounce around like a pinball. Eventually Adorno latched onto a bouncing ball to give her side a 3-0 lead.
This was a big blow to Uruguay as the scoreline now meant Korea would take second spot in Pool C. The situation meant all or nothing for the Uruguay team. The third quarter was goalless as Uruguay sought to break through the Argentina defence. For their part, Argentina dug in and focused on their defence structure.
The final goal came after a great run down the line and finishing shot from Cataline Andrade, who had put in a match-winning performance all game.
India beat Malaysia 4-0
India scored the 100th goal of this Women’s Junior World Cup as they took a firm hold in the match with Malaysia. The goal, scored by Mumtaz Khan in the 10th minute, was the result of a swift counter-attack. To that point, Malaysia had been putting their higher ranked rivals under pressure. However, India are a team that can counter attack and strike quickly and Khan’s goal was rapidly followed by a second scored by Sangita Kumari, when she was on hand to deflect a pass home.
India nearly scored a third when Deepika’s fearsome penalty corner struck the post. Malaysia’s goalkeeper Siti Nasir breathed a sigh of relief as the ball bounced away.
A third goal was inevitable as India continued to pile on the pressure. Malaysia were chasing the ball and signs of fatigue were becoming obvious as mistakes began to creep into their play. Lalrindiki was the scorer: pouncing on a chance after a penalty corner had been defended by the Malaysian defence.
The third quarter saw the Malaysia goalkeeper Siti Nasir play heroically to keep the score at 3-0. Despite multiple Indian attacks, Nasir stood strong.
As the match moved towards its conclusion, India continued to create chances to extend their lead. However, despite a spate of penalty corners, Malaysia showed enormous resilience and Head Coach Erik Wonink will be concerned at the poor conversion rate.
The Malaysia defence finally crumbled when India scored from yet another speedy counter attack.
Germany beat Wales 8-0
Germany raced to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter of this match. The goal spree was started by Jette Fleschütz, who was given space to fire a shot past Ffion Horrell in the Welsh goal.
The next two goals came in quick succession. Sophie Schwabe tucked the ball home after it was crossed from the left hand side of the circle and then Carlotta Sippel fired home a fabulous shot into the top corner of the goal.
A quieter second quarter saw Wales defending with better structure and Germany were confident enough to change the tempo of their own game and play the ball around rather than heading straight for goal.
The German goal-scoring machine resumed with Fleschütz scoring her second – an absolute rocket of a reverse stick shot into the top of the Welsh goal.
The fifth goal was clinical and precise. The ball was taken down the left-hand side and then some fast, nifty passing culminated in Verena Neumann slotting home.
Wales won their first penalty corner of the game in the final 10 minutes of the game. In the face of such German dominance, this in itself was a small victory for the Welsh team.
A great advantage by the umpire as the ball bounced off a Welsh foot in the circle allowed Pauline Heinz to pounce on the loose ball and fire it home to give her team a 6-0 lead.
The final two goals were scored by Carlotta Sippel, with a shot from the top of the circle and Stine Kurz with Germany’s only penalty corner goal of the match.
FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup (Results, Day-5):
Austria beat Korea 1- 0
Player of the Match: Helene Herzog (AUT)
Umpires: Maria Locatelli (ARG), Victoria Pazos (PAR), Ines El Hajem (FRA - reserve)
Argentina beat Uruguay 4- 0
Player of the Match: Maria Adorno (ARG)
Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRL), Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Gema Calderon (ESP -reserve)
India beat Malaysia 4-0
Player of the Match: Salima Tete (IND)
Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Rebecca Woodcock (ENG), Catalina Montesino (CHI - reserve)
Germany beat Wales 8-0
Player of the Match: Jette Fleschütz (GER)
Umpires: Kim Yoon Seon (KOR), Wanri Venter (RSA), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL - reserve)
