Sports Bulletin Report
PRETORIA: Hosts South Africa joined the Ukrainian women’s team and the Iranian men in notching up their first victories of the tournament on another action-packed day at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa.
A fiercely contested encounter saw South African firecracker Mustapha Cassiem scoring five goals in his side’s impressive 8-4 victory over the fourth-ranked Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Iran’s men had a battle on their hands against the USA. After Iran raced to a 2-0 lead by the third minute, the Americans slowly worked their way back into the match and managed to level matters at 3-3 towards the end of the first half. But Iranian keeper Sasan Hataminejad produced a spectacular performance to prevent any more goals, saving two strokes and keeping the determined Americans at bay. Having taken off their own keeper in the dying minutes of the match to boost their scoring chances, the USA conceded three quick goals and the ultimate score of 8-3 was far from an accurate reflection of the hard-fought contest, Reza Norouzzadeh completing his hattrick in the process.
Result (Men’s Event):
Austria beat Namibia (2-0)
Player of the match: Fabian Unterkircher (Austria)
Umpires: Adam Barry (AUS), Emily Carroll (AUS)
Netherlands beat Kazakhstan (9-1)
Player of the match: Schut Wiegert (Netherlands)
Umpires: Melina Illanes (ARG), Lee Barron (ENG)
Belgium beat New Zealand (7-2)
Player of the match: Philippe Simar (Belgium)
Umpires: Andres Ortiz (ESP), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL)
Argentina beat Australia (3-1)
Player of the match: Juan Eleicegui
Umpires: Lee Barron (ENG), Sean Edwards (ENG)
Iran beat USA (8-3)
Player of the match: Sasan Hataminejad (Iran)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL)
South Africa beat Czech Republic (8-4)
Player of the match: Mustapha Cassiem
Umpires: Rachel Williams (ENG), Sophie Bockelmann (GER)
Results (Women’s Event):
Canada 2 – 2 Namibia
Player of the match: Alison Lee (Canada)
Umpires: Cathy Wright (WAL), Sean Edwards (ENG)
Czech Republic beat Kazakhstan (8-2)
Player of the match: Natalie Novakova (Czech Republic)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Rachel Williams (ENG)
Ukraine beat Belgium (3-0)
Player of the match: Karyna Leonova
Umpires: Cathy Wright (WAL), Sophie Bockelmann (GER)
Austria beat USA (2-1)
Player of the match: Fiona Felber
Umpires: Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Melina Illanes (ARG)
Netherlands beat South Africa (3-1)
Player of the match: Eva Van T’Hoog
Umpires: Adam Barry (AUS), Emily Carroll (AUS)
Australia beat New Zealand (5-1)
Player of the match: Litiana Field
Umpires: Andres Ortiz (ESP), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL)
