Sports Bulletin Report
Pretoria (South Africa): The quarterfinal lineup was completed after several scintillating performances on the final day of pool matches at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa.
The men’s Pool B clash between the Czech Republic and Iran produced a 16-goal thriller. The Czechs led 6-3 by the 25th minute but the feisty Iranians came back at them. Just like they had done against South Africa the day before, a final-minute goal clinched a dramatic, last-gasp draw for Iran.
The 8-8 draw was enough to see the Iranians through to the quarterfinals, but there was disappointment for the fourth-ranked Czech Republic who are now left to fight it out for the minor places.
The other Pool B battle, between South Africa and Argentina, was another entertaining, high-scoring affair, which saw the hosts snatching a 5-4 win with another Mustapha Cassiem goal in the final minute.
Despite the loss, Argentina are also through to the quarterfinals thanks to their earlier victories over Iran and Australia.
In the other men’s pool it was Namibia who booked the final top-four spot despite a 4-4 draw with New Zealand.
Austria, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic had already secured their quarterfinal places before the final pool matches of the women’s tournament but the other spots were yet to be determined.
There was double joy for the home crowd when the South African women claimed their second victory of the tournament, beating New Zealand 6-3 to qualify for the top eight.
Australia went down 2-4 to Austria in their final pool match, but still progressed thanks to their earlier victories against the USA and New Zealand.
In Pool B, it was Belgium, Ukraine and Canada who joined the already-qualified Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. Belgium defeated Canada 1-0 thanks to a third-quarter goal from Claire Barry, and the Canadians then faced an anxious wait for the outcome of the final pool clash between Ukraine and Kazakhstan to discover whether they’d done enough to progress. That match ended in a 3-3 draw, with one point not enough to see the Kazakhs through ahead of Canada.
Friday’s men’s quarterfinal clashes will see Belgium facing Iran while defending world champions Austria are up against Argentina, the USA take on Namibia, and the Netherlands play South Africa.
In the women’s tournament, the Czech Republic face Australia, Austria take on Ukraine, Belgium play South Africa and the Netherlands are up against Canada in a bid to reach Saturday’s semifinals.
Results (Men’s Event):
South Africa 6 – 5 Argentina
Player of the match: Chad Futcher (RSA)
Umpires: Adam Barry (AUS), Sean Edwards (ENG)
USA 4 – 2 Australia
Player of the match: Stuart Kentwell (USA)
Umpires: Lee Barron (ENG), Ayden Shrives (RSA)
Czech Republic 8 – 8 Iran
Player of the match: Tomas Prochazka (CZE)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Rachel Williams (ENG)
Belgium 1 – 7 Netherlands
Player of the match: Boris Burkhardt (NED)
Umpires: Lee Barron (ENG), Adam Barry (AUS)
Austria 9 – 2 Kazakhstan
Player of the match: Michael Körper (AUT)
Umpires: Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL)
Namibia 4 – 4 New Zealand
Player of the match: Liam Hermanus (NAM)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL)
Results (Women’s Event):
Netherlands 3 – 2 USA
Player of the match: Elizabeth Tamburro (USA)
Umpires: Ornpimol Kittiteerasopon (THA), Cathy Wright (WAL)
South Africa 6 – 3 New Zealand
Player of the match: Daniela de Oliveira (RSA)
Umpires: Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Rachel Williams (ENG
Australia 2 – 4 Austria
Player of the match: Katharina Bauer (AUT)
Umpires: Lyndal Robertson (RSA), Cathy Wright (WAL)
Belgium 1 – 0 Canada
Player of the match: Claire Barry (BEL)
Umpires: Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Ornpimol Kittiteerasopon (THA)
Namibia 0 – 6 Czech Republic
Player of the match: Anna Vorlova (CZE)
Umpires: Lyndal Robertson (RSA), Sean Edwards (ENG)
Ukraine 3 – 3 Kazakhstan
Player of the match: Karyna Leonova (UKR)
Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL)
