For once, India avoided a last-minute shame, when they took on Spain on Thursday in a Pool A match at Rabobank Hockey World Cup. Neither side wanted a draw from this game but such hopes remained in the realm of wishful thinking with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. In Thursday’s other matches, Japanese and Korean women drew 1-1, Australian men and women finished victors, England’s men beat Malaysia and women from the host nation beat their New Zealand counterparts.
In another pool A match, the Englishmen registered their second win of the tournament by beating Malaysia 2-0. England went on attack immediately after the game began. In the 4th minute, Barry Middleton waited for Gleghorne to get a vantage position and Gleghorne showed an uncanny presence of mind in scooping in the goal with the reverse stick even as the goalkeeper rushed forward. England’s second goal came from a late penalty corner struck in the 66th minute. The game was largely dominated by England but they couldn’t find the target more often.
In men’s last Pool A match, Australia defeated Belgium 3-1. The victory sealed Australia’s entry to the semifinal with a 100% win record. The Australian superiority was evident from their scoring 2 goals in nine minutes from start; first by an awesome drag flick from Chris Ciriello in the 7th minute and second from Jacob Whetton two minutes later. It was 3-0 for Australia one minute after the halftime, when Eddie Ockenden deftly used his reverse stick strike into the goal.
In women’s Pool A, Australia scored their third 3-2 win in a row and this time it was Belgium. In a close match dominated by the Australians in early stages, proceeding slowed down after a while. In a see-saw battle later on, Australia took an early lead as Anna Flanagan scored from a 16th minute penalty corner but by half time Belgium squared it to 1-1. Three minutes after halftime, Jodie Kenny’s penalty corner put Australia ahead once again but the lead didn’t last more than 4 minutes as Belgium’s Jill Boon equalized. The 54th minute goal for Australia through a penalty stroke by Kenny decided Australia’s 3-2 victory.
In an entertaining match, Korean women drew 1-1 level with Japan. In an evenly matched game, Korea scored through Kim Jongeun to give her country a 1-0 halftime lead. Japan played much better in the second half and equalized in the 37th minute from a penalty corner by Shihori Oikawa. Both sides tried hard in the decider but finally settled for a draw.
In women’s last match on Thursday, hosts Netherlands beat New Zealand 2-0 with both goals coming in the first half. In the 5th minute, Van Den Heuvel smartly deflected a drag flick by Eva De Goede for the 1-0 lead and 5 minutes before half time Kim Lammers scored another brilliant goal. Though both side tried their tricks in the second half, no more goals could be scored.