Showing posts with label semi-final. Show all posts
Showing posts with label semi-final. Show all posts
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Great Britain vs Netherlands, Olympics 2012 Men's Hockey Semi-Final
This is the second semi-final of the men's competition and on paper this is a real David and Goliath match. These might be the world ranked number one and number four sides, but Netherlands have been on form throughout this competition while Great Britain have, at time, struggled.
Great Britain will have three things in their favour tonight. The first is that no-one really believes that they can do it so the pressure is on Netherlands to deliver the win. The second is home advantage. The crowd in the Riverside Arena will be on their side and if they can hook to that energy, it will give them the equivalent of an extra man. The third advantage is self belief. Jason Lee has built a team that is capable of beating anyone on their day and, for many, there can be no better day than this one.
As far as the teams go, Stockmann has stopped almost everything that has come his way in this tournament and he is one of the most formidable goalkeepers in the world. Fair is no slouch either but has, at times, been beaten just a little easily.
The two defences are evenly matched as is the midfield. The Netherlands strikers are the more experienced but Great Britain are hungrier. This game may well come down to special teams and in particular, the penalty corner specialists. Here, Great Britain have done well throughout this competition but Netherlands are perhaps the finest exponents of this technique in the world today.
First Half
Great Britain get us underway and immediately go on the attack, forcing a long corner but the Netherlands force the play away and Great Britain find themselves back in their D. Lewis is caught in possession but Hawes gets the ball back and Great Britain can now bring the ball away again.
Netherlands have possession and win a long corner through De Nooijer. Great Britain defend well and push forward but Netherlands come right back at them. That final ball from Netherlands should have been better and Great Britain need to be more controlled when they have the ball.
Great Britain up into the Netherlands 23m but lose the ball far too easily. Great Britain have the ball back and move the ball from side to side. Now they are moving forward and a quick ball to Hawes sees him charge into the D but the ball is cleared by Netherlands. It was a great stick clearance by Stockmann.
Netherlands break quickly but the ball was fired in from outside but there was no touch and it runs dead. Netherlands are making very easy yards when they get the ball which will be of concern to Great Britain.
That was a very busy opening five minutes but unlike the earlier semi-final, there have been much fewer changes so far. A collision in the middle of the pitch sees Vermeulen leave the field in what looks like some pain. Speculation at this point of a collar bone injury.
Netherlands on the attack and a good smother tackle by Fair on Verga forces the ball away. Great Britain were very lucky there and that has to serve as a warning call for the defence. More offence from Netherlands and this time the ball is on a foot and it's a penalty corner.
That ball was fired in like a rocket by Weusthof, high and to the left of Fair and that's the first goal to Netherlands
Great Britain 0 Netherlands 1
Great Britain immediately fire back but the shot from Jackson was well saved by Stockmann. Netherlands back on the attack now and they win a free hit. The ball is moved around the back but when it comes into the Great Britain D, it is easily picked off. There was no Netherlands player anywhere near the ball.
The arm wrestle in the midfield is going Netherlands way and this gives them another attack which results in another shot by de Voogd onto the foot of Smith and that's another penalty corner.
A complete mess at the top of the D but Netherlands get to the ball first, the ball is sent in, bobbles around and comes to Weusthof. His shot is right through the feet of Fair.
Great Britain 0 Netherlands 2
We are just 10 minutes in and it's already time for Great Britain to dig deep and prove that they want this match. They might have pulled three goals back against Australia in the group stage but Netherlands are not going to give them the same time.
Good pressure from Great Britain and Martin wins a penalty corner. A chance here to reduce the deficit and put some pressure on Netherlands. Fantastic drag flick by Jackson, just above the back board to Stockmann's right. Those are difficult shots to get to as a goalkeeper.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 2
That goal puts some pressure back on Netherlands who might have already started to think their job was done. A fantastic break by Great Britain, and Daly just fails to deflect the ball past Stockmann. Netherlands resorting to a couple of long balls to relieve the pressure but now they have the break, it's in the D and Fair puts the ball high. A stick above the shoulder means the goal is wiped off but Netherlands have another short corner.
This game is much faster than the earlier game. This time Van Der Weerden puts the ball very low and to the right of Fair. He's a very tall keeper and getting down to those shots is very hard. At this rate, we could see a lot of goals tonight.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 3
Netherlands come forward, the ball goes to the unmarked de Nooijer and Fair gets down and smothers the shot. Great Britain get the ball onto a Netherlands foot and start an attack of their own. Netherlands were lucky to get that ball away as Great Britain drive into their D. But as fast as the play breaks down at one end, the ball ends up back at the other.
Netherlands have a chance, but Great Britain get it away. In the midfield, Great Britain are looking about a yard short of the Netherlands pace and that means losing too many tackles and putting themselves under pressure.
Away come Great Britain with the ball through Lewers. They try moving the ball around the back but pressure from Netherlands brings the long pass which is intercepted. Jolie goes down like a football player and there is no place for amateur dramatics in hockey. Now he's up and running down the pitch.
Ball back in Netherlands 23m and they play it from side to side until they get a chance to throw the long ball to Weusthof and the ensuing shot saved by Fair.
A good drive by Great Britain and Stockmann does just enough to deny Martin. Netherlands now slowing the game down but a quick injection of pace once again leaves a striker unmarked and Great Britain escape again. Ball back down the other end of the pitch and it flies across the Netherlands D but there is no player near enough to make anything of it.
Netherlands get an attack, Weusthof drives into the D, loses the ball and then is a bit silly. That challenge on Jackson earns him a green card and two minutes on the bench.
Both sides now breathing hard and you can see the sweat pouring off these players. Great Britain get an attack through Tindall but he can't get it into the D. This gives Netherlands a chance to bring the ball away and slow the game down just a little. Great Britain win the ball but can't do anything with it. Netherlands collect the ball in the middle of the pitch, drive into the Great Britain D. move it around and the final push is from Bakker.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 4
This is clinical finishing from Netherlands and all possible through well made passes and some poor tackling by Great Britain.
And that's the half time hooter.
This first half has been a lesson for Great Britain in how to control the ball, create movement and score goals. The Netherlands always seem to have players open and when the get into the D, make sure to get a shot off. Great Britain, by comparison, have failed to take some of their chances and that has allowed Netherlands to play with some freedom.
Both goalkeepers have been busy but Stockmann has been the more composed. Fair has been exposed by some poor defending and beaten by some well placed shots. If Great Britain are to get back into this game in the second half, they will need to take every chance that comes their way and build a concrete wall around their D.
The scoring is not yet finished in this match and with a three goal margin, Netherlands will allow themselves the freedom to get creative and that could just, maybe, give Great Britain one or two openings of their own. However, Great Britain are going to be chasing the game and the defence will need to work extra hard to prevent Netherlands exploiting the gaps that will inevitably appear.
Second Half
Great Britain signal their intention with a drive right into Netherlands D and get a penalty corner. This has to be converted if Great Britain want to get back into this match. Drag flick is charged down and the second effort from Jackson is only just wide of the post. Umpire awarded another penalty corner and Netherlands have challenged this but the video referral cannot conclusively prove the decision was wrong so the penalty corner stands.
Netherlands are now getting into a debate with the umpire. This is bad for the image of hockey and players need to respect the decision of the officials. This is where yellow cards should be used.
Penalty corner taken but Netherlands players are so fast, Jackson just cannot get the shot off. Van Der Weerden takes a hard knock on the ankle and is being helped off the pitch. Great Britain have the ball back, drive into the D but just cannot work Stockmann. The shot goes wide.
Great Britain cannot convert their chances and this allows Netherlands to move the ball up the pitch. Tindall has a great chance for a goal but having drawn Stockmann he makes a poor pass to Daly instead of taking the shot. You can't score if you don't work the keeper and the last thing Great Britain needs is strikers getting shy about taking shots on goal.
Almost a great long ball in there but its picked off by a Netherlands stick and away they come with the ball. Only nine minutes gone in this half and the pace is frenetic. Another drive into the D by Netherlands, Fair covers his post, defenders fail to intercept and Bakker takes the pass and scores past a diving Fair.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 5
Another strike from the edge of the D by De Voogd, Fair couldn't stop it completely and De Nooijer pushes the ball into the back of the open goal.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 6
22 minutes left in this game and Great Britain are so intent on chasing the game they are leaving men unmarked at the back. Fair found himself two on one and Evers scores the seventh goal. This is a masterclass in international hockey.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 7
Every goalkeeper will be feeling for Fair at the moment. It will be so hard for him to pick himself up and stay positive for the rest of this game. In two days time he has to face Australia. Just as I say that, Netherlands break and from an acute angle, and Bakker threads the ball past Fair and that's another goal.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 8
Once again, Netherlands break and there are two unmarked men in the Great Britain 23m Fair does superbly well to force the player to turn away and the defence scramble back to get the ball away. This time the bounce just goes against Netherlands and the ball goes out for a long corner.
There is still some fight in Great Britain and they are doing their best down at Netherlands end of the pitch but once again no shot. The last four goals for Netherlands came in a six minute golden period.
Clarke gets the ball into the Netherlands 23m but it well tackled and the Netherlands are just passing the ball around with ease. Great Britain having to chase everything but they get the ball back.
Cross from Great Britain but its picked off by Jolie and another attack is snuffed out.
Great Britain come again but the tackling from Netherlands is positive and the ball is back at the Great Britain end of the pitch. Fair is on the edge of his D forcing the ball away but Netherlands work a penalty corner, their first of this half. Ball comes out to Weusthof and he has all the time in the world to pick his spot for the drag flick.
Great Britain 1 Netherlands 9
Cheers from the crowd as Great Britain finally win a penalty corner. Stockmann will be looking to keep this out but the stadium is full of people willing the ball in. Netherlands break early and the penalty corner is retaken but to no avail. Ball beats Stockmann but hits the post. Great Britain are have wretched luck here this evening.
We are seeing some determined Great Britain possession in the middle of the pitch now. The players faces show that they are still trying, even though they must realise the match has gone. This is about pride now and they will want to try and do something for this crowd who have been magnificent. No boos, no slow hand clapping, just positive support.
The ball is fired into the D and Moore gets a consolation goal for Great Britain. Flags wave around the stadium.
Great Britain 2 Netherlands 9
It looks like a late fightback from Great Britain. They are not giving up and are digging deep. The crowd are singing. Hofman is free and gets the ball but Fair stands up to him and he cannot find a shot and when he tries the pass, it comes off a Great Britain foot for a penalty corner.
Fair denies Weusthof with a great glove save and the ball is cleared by Great Britain. They may have lost this game but they are not going to concede double figures. Lewers gets a green card and there is 90 seconds left to play. Can Great Britain pull another one back. They have a free hit just outside the Netherlands D. Ball is fired across and can only have been millimetres away from the deflection.
Netherlands break with Bakker and Fair denies them again. The crowd are cheering everything Great Britain do. They really have been the 12th man tonight.
Final hooter goes.
This was a dominant a display as you will see at an international level. Great Britain were taken apart by the best in the world but when four goals were scored in a matter of just six minutes, Great Britain were blown away. The more goals Netherlands scored, the more Great Britain had to chase the game and that just exposed the defence.
There will be many who were unhappy with Great Britain reverting to a 5-3-2-1 approach who will say that the tactics and the side were wrong. That is rubbish. This team did the best it could but on the night were faced with a side that were imperious and would have beaten anyone else in this competition. It is worth remembering that Netherlands have not dropped a single point throughout this competition.
Netherlands will now be looking to beat Germany on Saturday in the gold medal game and on this performance, I cannot see Germany relishing the challenge. Great Britain will have to pick themselves up in order to face Australia for the bronze and there will be some significant pressure on them to come away with at least that.
Australia vs Germany, Olympics 2012 Men's Hockey Semi-Final
This first semi-final of the day sees a dominant Australia up against a misfiring Germany. this tournament has been anything but a breeze for both teams. They have both dropped points but both teams have big match experience so don't expect that to matter too much.
Australia had three wins and two draws in their group. The two draws came against Great Britain and Argentina and they could have lost both games. In the Great Britain game, Australia were 3-0 up and were stunned by a Great Britain fightback.
Germany also managed three wins but also had a 5-5 draw with New Zealand and lost 3-1 to group winners Netherlands. It was the nature of the 5-5 draw that caused some concern because Germany seemed unable to stop a side that just refused to be beaten.
Both of these sides will attack from the start and we can expect a lot of fireworks. Penalty corner specialists in both sides will be hoping to take their chances but this is where goalkeepers become heroes. Burgers and Weinhold are experience goalkeepers who, despite the 5 that New Zealand put past Weinhold, are both hard to beat.
Defences could hold a bigger key than attack. The German defence has looked vulnerable when under a lot of pressure and there is no side better than Australia at creating that sustained pressure. If there are cracks, this is where they will be.
In the midfield it should be a real tussle. Both sides will be looking to dominate possession in this part of the field and unlike other teams, they both have expert proponents of the aerial ball. This will mean that it could take less than a second for the game to switch from one end of the pitch to the other.
The forwards will be looking to get themselves into space to take those aerial balls. We can expect to see a lot of balls hit across the goal or just wide of the post for a diving forward to come in and try and deflect past the goalkeepers.
First Half
It's fast and furious right from the start. Both sides moving the ball from side to side and trying the long pass but the ball is just not running easily. The long angled pass to unmarked forwards is coming from Germany while Australia is trying to drive it down the centre and once in the 23m, move the ball out to the wings and hope for the cross.
Both sides are making a lot of quick changes with players doing short shifts as the heat in the Riverside stadium increases. As we get to the end of this game, the side that manages its substitutions the best will have an advantage although the fitness levels of these two sides is extremely high.
There are a lot of balls being fired towards forwards but the keepers are having relatively little to do. Those balls that do get into the D are going wide of the post at the moment with neither side really doing anything to create a goal scoring opportunity.
With 10 minutes gone, we've had no meaningful action on goal and no penalty corners but we have had 19 substitutions.
Australia get into the German 23m area but are forced away and when the ball is fired back in, it goes straight to a German stick. A long ball from Germany is deflected for a long corner but nothing comes from it.
There is a little bit of stalemate at the moment. Neither side is able to dominate, long passes are being wasted and the crowd are waiting for something to happen. Swann is the first player to take an injury and is having some treatment for a bang on the knee. Burgers clears the ball off the side from the top of his D. Good, safe goalkeeping.
Australia now drive down into the German area and the reverse stick shot from Knowles is over hit and the ball goes behind without troubling Weinhold. Germany get the ball away and Australia come again. Lesson here for Great Britain ladies from last night, when Australia drive into the 23m, players come to the ball and provide a route for the ball carrier. Failure to do that cost Great Britain last night.
A great drive into the D by Zeller brings the penalty corner as he goes down under the challenge from Govers. The Australians have gone for the video review as they feel Zeller was already going to ground before he got into the D. The decision is that the offence was outside the D and the penalty corner award is overturned.
Sharp blast by the umpire to warn players to stop pushing in the D. Germany restart the game and get a good deflection in the D which just fails to go to a German attacker. Australia fail to clear it cleanly and this time and there is no objection to the penalty corner.
Germany are 7 goals from 27 penalty corners so far this tournament and fail to convert this one. The flick is low and on Burgers foot. Australia charge down the other end of the field and Weinhold makes the first save from a fearsome strike from Turner but the rebound falls to Govers who makes no mistake, putting the ball through Weinhold's legs.
Australia 1 Germany 0
Another attack by Australia and the ball ends up in front of an open goal but Turner couldn't get to it. Zeller gives away the penalty corner and Australia immediately have an opportunity to extend their lead.
Govers drag flick is well saved off of the glove of Weinhold and Australia are get a shot from the rebound. Ball went safe off of Weinhold.
Penalty corner for Germany now and after a period of stalemate, this game has really come to life. Chances at both ends and Germany know that they must get the equaliser here. Australia are taking a lot of time to get ready for this penalty corner and the umpire has warned Australia.
The ball comes out to Furste who puts it low and to Burgers right. Lots of goals being scored into the bottom right corner here.
Australia 1 Germany 1
The first green card of the game goes against Muller and Australia force the ball into the Germany D and win the penalty corner. The penalty corners are coming thick and fast now.
Once again Weinhold is up to the task and clears the ball from his glove. The speed of rebound take the ball all the way out to the sideline.
Germany get the ball into the Australian half but it is wastefully pushed off the sideline.
Just five minutes to go in this half, can either side go in to the break with a lead?
We are back to the long wasted passes off the back line. This is poor decision making and poor hockey, just the sort of thing coaches try and stop players doing. Germany is making the best use of the ball as we approach the half time break but Australia clear the ball with two minutes to go.
Great 3D hockey skills from Deecke as he drives through the Australian defence but is stopped just before he can get the shot off in the D. Lucky escape for Australia there.
The half ends 1-1 with the match well balanced. Both sides have had chances and both have wasted real opportunities inside the D. There has been far too much use of the long ball which has led to possession being turned over for no gain. Australia have probably just edged this first half in terms of chances but they have also ridden their luck on more than one occasion in defence.
Both goalkeepers have made some excellent saves and kept their teams in the match but they have, at times, been flattered by poor finishing and even poorer decision making by opposition attackers.
Second Half
Germany throw the long ball down to the Australian 23m but the ball is easily taken by a defender and Australia drive down to the German end of the field. Germany pick up the ball and Korn gets off a shot from the edge of the D but it goes wide.
The ease with which some of these players throw the aerial ball is quite amazing. Many a club player, even at national level, will be envious.
Yet another German attack breaks down with a loose pass off the side of the pitch. They have it back again and drive into the D but are easily disposessed by Australia.
Australia get the goal but only after a goalmouth scramble. Turner shot saved, couldn't get the rebound and then he manages to pull it away from Weinhold who is on the floor and flick it into the goal.
Australia 2 Germany 1
Umpires stepping in to defuse some silly pushing and shoving from both sides. Australia are back on the attack but Germany win the ball and have a free hit outside the Australian D. Ball forced backwards by Australia and Germany get it back into the D and that's a snapshot. The ball was just edged over the top of the bar by an Australian defender.
Both sides are tackling hard and getting physical in the midfield and there is a real risk of some yellow cards if players do not calm down. The umpires won't stand for too much more of this silly behaviour which is detracting from the game.
Australian hit just outside the edge of the D. The shot comes in and is put behind by Weinhold. Haener picks up another verbal warning from an umpire for complaining too much.
What an absolutely outstanding goal for Germany. Ball was lifted forward, Deecke too the ball in the air, flicked it over Burgers and into the back of the net. Australia complain that the stick was above the shoulder and it has been chalked off by the video umpire. On the replay, the video umpire is right but Germany are incensed at the decision.
The Germany players are starting to boil now, mobbing the umpire and complaining. It is important that the umpires get control of the players before this gets out of control. But if Germany think shouting at these umpires will achieve anything, they are making a big mistake.
Australia push the ball long but it rolls off the sideline in the German 23m area. The Germans are really putting the squeeze on Australia now forcing them to just hit the ball away. Zeller has drawn a green card for continual backchat to the umpires who have now had enough.
The Germans really are throwing everything at the Australians now who just keep soaking up the pressure. Ball into the D, it falls to Witthaus and there's the equaliser into the bottom corner of the goal.
Australia 2 Germany 2
Germany again have Australia pinned back in their end of the pitch. Zeller drives into the D but Australia get it away and Dwyer drives it into the 23m. Free hit Australia but Germany get it clear and can now attack again.
The last 14 minutes are going to be tough. This is getting to be a game for hard men. Team fitness will now become an issue and I favour Australia over Germany in that respect.
Germany now making the best of their possession and Australia need to get hold of the ball if they are ging to relieve the pressure. Germany win a penalty corner from the video umpire and this is their chance to take the lead for the first time in this match.
The ball comes out and Zeller fakes the drag flick, shifts the ball just to the left onto the stick of Wess and it's in the back of the net. Weinhold only just missed the ball but that's all it takes.
Australia 2 Germany 3
Australia finally have the ball but only in the middle of the pitch. They need to drive it forward if they are to square the score. Ball snapped in from the side and it misses everyone. Germany have the ball back and are again pushing Australia back to their end of the pitch.
Australian move down the right to Dwyer and Australia have the free hit on the left of the German area. Ball in to the feet of an australian attacker but he can't get the shot away. Germany break quickly, catching Australia napping and Fuchs runs half the length of the pitch to dive and get the deflection of the ball, beating Burgers.
Australia 2 Germany 4
Seven minutes left and Australia know they are up against it. They drive into the German D and force two saves from Weinhold but cannot get hold of the rebound. Germany have the ball back and are now looking to just control this game and give Australia no opportunities.
Even when Australia do get the ball, they just can't get into the German D. This is all about possession hockey for the last four minutes. It's clear advantage Germany at the moment and Australia seem to lack any real response.
Australia have gone for the kicking back. This is a last desperate move but Germany are coming forward once more. Two minutes to play and its nail biting time for Australian fans. They win the long corner but play it straight to a German stick.
Australia have the ball back and it's fired into the D. Dwyer gets an edge on the ball but Weinhold gets the foot on it and Germany throw the ball forward. It's down in the Australian end of the pitch now and Germany go through to the gold medal match while Australia only have the bronze medal match to look forward to.
For long periods, the Australians just could not get the ball away from Germany. The Germans pressed and pressed to get the equaliser having gone 2-1 down 7 minutes into the half. After a goal was ruled off for a high stick, Germany calmed down and went to work.
The turning point was three goals in nine minutes for Germany. Australia really struggled to get the ball in the last ten minutes of this match and were comprehensively beaten at the end.
Australia had three wins and two draws in their group. The two draws came against Great Britain and Argentina and they could have lost both games. In the Great Britain game, Australia were 3-0 up and were stunned by a Great Britain fightback.
Germany also managed three wins but also had a 5-5 draw with New Zealand and lost 3-1 to group winners Netherlands. It was the nature of the 5-5 draw that caused some concern because Germany seemed unable to stop a side that just refused to be beaten.
Both of these sides will attack from the start and we can expect a lot of fireworks. Penalty corner specialists in both sides will be hoping to take their chances but this is where goalkeepers become heroes. Burgers and Weinhold are experience goalkeepers who, despite the 5 that New Zealand put past Weinhold, are both hard to beat.
Defences could hold a bigger key than attack. The German defence has looked vulnerable when under a lot of pressure and there is no side better than Australia at creating that sustained pressure. If there are cracks, this is where they will be.
In the midfield it should be a real tussle. Both sides will be looking to dominate possession in this part of the field and unlike other teams, they both have expert proponents of the aerial ball. This will mean that it could take less than a second for the game to switch from one end of the pitch to the other.
The forwards will be looking to get themselves into space to take those aerial balls. We can expect to see a lot of balls hit across the goal or just wide of the post for a diving forward to come in and try and deflect past the goalkeepers.
First Half
It's fast and furious right from the start. Both sides moving the ball from side to side and trying the long pass but the ball is just not running easily. The long angled pass to unmarked forwards is coming from Germany while Australia is trying to drive it down the centre and once in the 23m, move the ball out to the wings and hope for the cross.
Both sides are making a lot of quick changes with players doing short shifts as the heat in the Riverside stadium increases. As we get to the end of this game, the side that manages its substitutions the best will have an advantage although the fitness levels of these two sides is extremely high.
There are a lot of balls being fired towards forwards but the keepers are having relatively little to do. Those balls that do get into the D are going wide of the post at the moment with neither side really doing anything to create a goal scoring opportunity.
With 10 minutes gone, we've had no meaningful action on goal and no penalty corners but we have had 19 substitutions.
Australia get into the German 23m area but are forced away and when the ball is fired back in, it goes straight to a German stick. A long ball from Germany is deflected for a long corner but nothing comes from it.
There is a little bit of stalemate at the moment. Neither side is able to dominate, long passes are being wasted and the crowd are waiting for something to happen. Swann is the first player to take an injury and is having some treatment for a bang on the knee. Burgers clears the ball off the side from the top of his D. Good, safe goalkeeping.
Australia now drive down into the German area and the reverse stick shot from Knowles is over hit and the ball goes behind without troubling Weinhold. Germany get the ball away and Australia come again. Lesson here for Great Britain ladies from last night, when Australia drive into the 23m, players come to the ball and provide a route for the ball carrier. Failure to do that cost Great Britain last night.
A great drive into the D by Zeller brings the penalty corner as he goes down under the challenge from Govers. The Australians have gone for the video review as they feel Zeller was already going to ground before he got into the D. The decision is that the offence was outside the D and the penalty corner award is overturned.
Sharp blast by the umpire to warn players to stop pushing in the D. Germany restart the game and get a good deflection in the D which just fails to go to a German attacker. Australia fail to clear it cleanly and this time and there is no objection to the penalty corner.
Germany are 7 goals from 27 penalty corners so far this tournament and fail to convert this one. The flick is low and on Burgers foot. Australia charge down the other end of the field and Weinhold makes the first save from a fearsome strike from Turner but the rebound falls to Govers who makes no mistake, putting the ball through Weinhold's legs.
Australia 1 Germany 0
Another attack by Australia and the ball ends up in front of an open goal but Turner couldn't get to it. Zeller gives away the penalty corner and Australia immediately have an opportunity to extend their lead.
Govers drag flick is well saved off of the glove of Weinhold and Australia are get a shot from the rebound. Ball went safe off of Weinhold.
Penalty corner for Germany now and after a period of stalemate, this game has really come to life. Chances at both ends and Germany know that they must get the equaliser here. Australia are taking a lot of time to get ready for this penalty corner and the umpire has warned Australia.
The ball comes out to Furste who puts it low and to Burgers right. Lots of goals being scored into the bottom right corner here.
Australia 1 Germany 1
The first green card of the game goes against Muller and Australia force the ball into the Germany D and win the penalty corner. The penalty corners are coming thick and fast now.
Once again Weinhold is up to the task and clears the ball from his glove. The speed of rebound take the ball all the way out to the sideline.
Germany get the ball into the Australian half but it is wastefully pushed off the sideline.
Just five minutes to go in this half, can either side go in to the break with a lead?
We are back to the long wasted passes off the back line. This is poor decision making and poor hockey, just the sort of thing coaches try and stop players doing. Germany is making the best use of the ball as we approach the half time break but Australia clear the ball with two minutes to go.
Great 3D hockey skills from Deecke as he drives through the Australian defence but is stopped just before he can get the shot off in the D. Lucky escape for Australia there.
The half ends 1-1 with the match well balanced. Both sides have had chances and both have wasted real opportunities inside the D. There has been far too much use of the long ball which has led to possession being turned over for no gain. Australia have probably just edged this first half in terms of chances but they have also ridden their luck on more than one occasion in defence.
Both goalkeepers have made some excellent saves and kept their teams in the match but they have, at times, been flattered by poor finishing and even poorer decision making by opposition attackers.
Second Half
Germany throw the long ball down to the Australian 23m but the ball is easily taken by a defender and Australia drive down to the German end of the field. Germany pick up the ball and Korn gets off a shot from the edge of the D but it goes wide.
The ease with which some of these players throw the aerial ball is quite amazing. Many a club player, even at national level, will be envious.
Yet another German attack breaks down with a loose pass off the side of the pitch. They have it back again and drive into the D but are easily disposessed by Australia.
Australia get the goal but only after a goalmouth scramble. Turner shot saved, couldn't get the rebound and then he manages to pull it away from Weinhold who is on the floor and flick it into the goal.
Australia 2 Germany 1
Umpires stepping in to defuse some silly pushing and shoving from both sides. Australia are back on the attack but Germany win the ball and have a free hit outside the Australian D. Ball forced backwards by Australia and Germany get it back into the D and that's a snapshot. The ball was just edged over the top of the bar by an Australian defender.
Both sides are tackling hard and getting physical in the midfield and there is a real risk of some yellow cards if players do not calm down. The umpires won't stand for too much more of this silly behaviour which is detracting from the game.
Australian hit just outside the edge of the D. The shot comes in and is put behind by Weinhold. Haener picks up another verbal warning from an umpire for complaining too much.
What an absolutely outstanding goal for Germany. Ball was lifted forward, Deecke too the ball in the air, flicked it over Burgers and into the back of the net. Australia complain that the stick was above the shoulder and it has been chalked off by the video umpire. On the replay, the video umpire is right but Germany are incensed at the decision.
The Germany players are starting to boil now, mobbing the umpire and complaining. It is important that the umpires get control of the players before this gets out of control. But if Germany think shouting at these umpires will achieve anything, they are making a big mistake.
Australia push the ball long but it rolls off the sideline in the German 23m area. The Germans are really putting the squeeze on Australia now forcing them to just hit the ball away. Zeller has drawn a green card for continual backchat to the umpires who have now had enough.
The Germans really are throwing everything at the Australians now who just keep soaking up the pressure. Ball into the D, it falls to Witthaus and there's the equaliser into the bottom corner of the goal.
Australia 2 Germany 2
Germany again have Australia pinned back in their end of the pitch. Zeller drives into the D but Australia get it away and Dwyer drives it into the 23m. Free hit Australia but Germany get it clear and can now attack again.
The last 14 minutes are going to be tough. This is getting to be a game for hard men. Team fitness will now become an issue and I favour Australia over Germany in that respect.
Germany now making the best of their possession and Australia need to get hold of the ball if they are ging to relieve the pressure. Germany win a penalty corner from the video umpire and this is their chance to take the lead for the first time in this match.
The ball comes out and Zeller fakes the drag flick, shifts the ball just to the left onto the stick of Wess and it's in the back of the net. Weinhold only just missed the ball but that's all it takes.
Australia 2 Germany 3
Australia finally have the ball but only in the middle of the pitch. They need to drive it forward if they are to square the score. Ball snapped in from the side and it misses everyone. Germany have the ball back and are again pushing Australia back to their end of the pitch.
Australian move down the right to Dwyer and Australia have the free hit on the left of the German area. Ball in to the feet of an australian attacker but he can't get the shot away. Germany break quickly, catching Australia napping and Fuchs runs half the length of the pitch to dive and get the deflection of the ball, beating Burgers.
Australia 2 Germany 4
Seven minutes left and Australia know they are up against it. They drive into the German D and force two saves from Weinhold but cannot get hold of the rebound. Germany have the ball back and are now looking to just control this game and give Australia no opportunities.
Even when Australia do get the ball, they just can't get into the German D. This is all about possession hockey for the last four minutes. It's clear advantage Germany at the moment and Australia seem to lack any real response.
Australia have gone for the kicking back. This is a last desperate move but Germany are coming forward once more. Two minutes to play and its nail biting time for Australian fans. They win the long corner but play it straight to a German stick.
Australia have the ball back and it's fired into the D. Dwyer gets an edge on the ball but Weinhold gets the foot on it and Germany throw the ball forward. It's down in the Australian end of the pitch now and Germany go through to the gold medal match while Australia only have the bronze medal match to look forward to.
For long periods, the Australians just could not get the ball away from Germany. The Germans pressed and pressed to get the equaliser having gone 2-1 down 7 minutes into the half. After a goal was ruled off for a high stick, Germany calmed down and went to work.
The turning point was three goals in nine minutes for Germany. Australia really struggled to get the ball in the last ten minutes of this match and were comprehensively beaten at the end.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Argentina vs Great Britain, Olympics 2012 Hockey Semi-final
Argentina and Great Britain come into this match, both on good form. Argentina has come through a very tough group in first place but isn't really firing on all cylinders yet. The best ladies hockey player in the world, Luciana Aymer has yet to really play her best in this tournament but even when not at her best, she is still very dangerous.
For Great Britain, the talismanic Kate Walsh will definitely start despite her surgery a week ago. Crista Cullen, the outstanding penalty corner specialist at this tournament will need to be on her very best if she is to beat Laura del Colle in the Argentine goal.
The last time the majority of these players met, was the Champions Trophy 2011 in Argentina. On that day, Argentina beat England and the English players in this team will be looking to avenge that defeat, especially as they now have home advantage
If the first semi-final was tight and end-to-end stuff, this one will be even more so. Both sides will want to win this in normal time and avoid the lottery of golden goal extra time and the new format shoot out. The winners will be the team that can run for the whole 70 minutes and keep their composure under pressure. The two goalkeepers, Laura del Colle and Beth Storry will have a long hard night and neither of them will be looking forward to the thought of the shoot out at the end of a long evening.
First Half
Great Britain got the first attack in, driving the ball down the right hand side and deep into the Argentine 23m. After a few attempts to get the ball in to the D it finally went off the back line, allowing Argentina to relieve the pressure. Great Britain quickly win the ball back and put in another attack but once again it comes to nothing.
After being muscled off the ball by the USA a few days ago, Argentina started the game with some very physical challenges and were warned by the umpire to calm down. All this with just two minutes of the match gone.
It didn't take long for Argentina to get their first chance at the Great Britain goal. A long ball, fired in that was easily swept away to the sideline. Argentina quickly took the sideline hit, drove into the D and picked up the first penalty corner. on replay, the ball seemed to be lifted but it would have been a hard call to disallow that and it was too early in the game for Great Britain to risk losing its referral to the video umpire
The ball was injected quickly, and Rodriguez Perez had just enough time to get the shot off, just evading the charging Cullen. The ball was low and to the left of Storry in the Great Britain goal and it's 1-0 to Argentina. This was just the start Argentina were looking for. From the restart, Great Britain looked to hit back and although they got the ball down to the Argentine D, they still couldn't do anything with it.
The sticks were beginning to really fly in now and Argentina picked up another warning from the umpires for loose stick play. The ball is back at the Argentine end of the pitch but Great Britain are still unable to get the shot away. Argentina bring the ball away and seem to have plenty of time to play it around the back. Some really loose passes here from both sides and the game goes a little quiet.
A Rebecchi drive into the Great Britain D almost led to a shot on goal but she was dispossessed just before she could get the shot off. Great Britain come away with the ball and Danson looked for room to run but she is being closely marked by as many as three players at times. Great Britain drove into the 23m area and a push in the back on Danson should have brought a penalty corner.
After all that sustained pressure from Great Britain, Argentina finally got a free hit and a chance to bring the ball away. The ball is moved quickly down the Argentine left to a player who is completely unmarked but Walsh got across quickly to make the tackle but instead gives away a free hit just outside the D. Argentina quickly take the hit but Walsh, looking a little intimidating in her face protection, wins the ball back, fairly this time.
Great Britain move the ball from side to side around the back and then go for the long arial down the right side but the whole move goes nowhere. Argentina took the sideline hit quickly but it runs off the far end of the pitch. Danson gets another chance to drive the ball into the Argentine D and wins a sideline hit. Great Britain move the ball around the back until Walsh tried the long forward pass which goes harmlessly off the end of the pitch.
Cullen went up in support of the attack as Great Britain tried to pin Argentina into their own D. The heavy marking on Danson should be creating much more room for other players. Unfortunately, Great Britain aren't taking advantage of this. A mistake by Great Britain allowed Argentina to launch forward into the Great Britain 23m area. Good defending from Great Britain but the clearance went back to Argentina who win a free hit.
Composure will be the key to this game and at the moment, Argentina look the more composed when on the ball, both in attack and defence.
A spate of missed tackles by Great Britain left them perilously close to the umpires reaching for their green cards. Too many of the Great Britain clearances are now going straight to Argentine sticks. As a result, the ball keeps coming back and back. Great Britain are also slow on the ball, which has allowed Argentina to win the ball in key areas of the pitch.
Not only are Great Britain having a problem clearing the ball from their 23m but Richardson is getting very animated out there, shouting at her own team mates and needs to calm down and keep her head. Thomas came back to collect the ball, drove it forward to the Argentine 23m and then shot it into the D where it was deflected off the back line. Argentina are constantly getting everyone behind the ball to prevent any Great Britain shot and eventually they get a free hit and clear the ball.
Great Britain intercept and drive the ball back in again but they just cannot find a telling ball into the D and get anyone on it. Attack after attack from Great Britain ends in a free hit to Argentina. Great Britain are lucky not to have lost a player to a yellow card when a stick is lifted into the face of Habif. Argentina are quickly back on the attack first down the left, then the right and then back down the left. Finally they get some room on the Great Britain right but Walsh comes away with the ball.
With just over 6 minutes to go, Argentina came forward looking for a second goal but Aymar is denied by some great work from Storry. Although she is able to get the rebound, it goes harmlessly over the bar. Great Britain quickly get the ball to the Argentine end of the pitch and under extreme pressure, Danson manages to manufacture a shot from nothing, which just goes wide of the post.
Argentina's response was to get the ball forward through an arial ball but it goes nowhere and Great Britain turn it around and go back on that attack. The problem is that the ball once again goes to a player who tries to run through the entire Argentine defence giving away the ball in the processes.
Great Britain are now missing tackle after tackle and have allowed Rebecchi to take the ball to the back line and drive into the D. Storry comes to make the tackle but a fabulous bit of skill from Rebecchi moves the ball beyond Storry and then she just rolls it into the goal. 2-0 Argentina. The two recovering Great Britain defenders were just too slow to react and prevent the ball going over the line.
Great Britain players are arguing with umpire Roach about an offence which cannot be reviewed and if they are not careful, somebody is going to be sent off.
From the restart, Great Britain get the ball into the Argentine area but just can't create a scoring opportunity. Argentina bring the ball away and Great Britain just need to see out the last few seconds of this half and get into the changing room and reset their minds.
Despite the possession that Great Britain had in the first half, they were unable to turn it into any meaningful attack or shot on goal. As the half went on, play got more an more animated and composure went out of the window. If Great Britain are to get back into this match, they need to find a quick goal at the start of the second half and then contain Argentina.
Second Half
Great Britain started the second half in the same manner as the first half. Long ball into the Argentine 23m area but it rolls off the back line, allowing Argentina to get it clear. Great Britain intercepted the ball from the restart and moved it across the pitch to Danson who drove in to the D, winning a free hit.
The ball goes into the D and although Great Britain once again failed to get off a decent shot, they did win a penalty corner. Cullen steps up, the ball is injected, stopped and brave running from an Argentine defender forced the ball out of play at the sideline. Danson has taken the hit quickly but made a mess of it, allowing Argentina to take their time and get the ball away.
The relieving ball sails into the crowd and Great Britain have taken the free hit and driven themselves back into the Argentine 23m area. Thomas is once again isolated with the ball and this has happened all too often. Whenever Great Britain have had possession, the Argentine defence has isolated the player on the ball and nobody has made a post run to help them find a route out.
Thomas is winning free hit after free hit but she has nowhere to go, Eventually the ball goes over the back line and Argentina get a chance to put the ball in the Great Britain half. It was a poor clearance and Great Britain have once again driven the ball toward the Argentine D but there is nobody able to get a shot onto the goalkeeper.
The game has now settled into a pattern. Great Britain put Argentina under pressure in their half of the pitch, run out of options and Argentina hit the ball long and off the Great Britain back line. This forces Great Britain to turn around, collect the ball and start again. It might not be pretty hockey but it is effective and it is eating up the time.
Walsh is working very hard, feeding the ball forward to the midfield who are trying to get the ball into Danson or Richardsen but the final balls are just not coming off. Danson gets the ball again, drives through two Argentine players and wins another free hit just outside the D. The hit is taken, the ball fired in but it is easily cleared by the massed Argentine defence. Once again, a Great Britain player has the ball and finds themself surrounded by three Argentine defenders who win the free hit.
So far, this half has seen a huge improvement in effort by Great Britain but they just can't seem to get any reward for all their hard work.
Argentina finally have some respite and have driven the ball into the Great Britain 23m. Solid defending by Great Britain forces Argentina to bring the ball back out to the midfield and after a short exchange of tackles and some misjudged passes by both sides, Great Britain are once again on the attack, Danson has made her way into the Argentine D but the shot is weak, right at the goalkeeper and she takes her time and just kicks it clear to the sideline.
Argentina come away with the ball down their left but it has been put out for a long corner. After some good defending from Great Britain, they win a sideline hit and can once again drive down to the Argentine end of the pitch. Argentina are once again tackling aggressively and eventually win the ball back. Back chat from the Great Britain forwards sees the umpire move the free hit up 10 metres. Great Britain in danger of losing their composure again.
There are just 19 minutes left in this game and both teams have put in a huge amount of running so far and it will soon begin to tell on player fitness. Great Britain have another opportunity in the Argentine D but the attacker is too slow getting the shot off and the defender has time to just steal the ball off of their stick.
Argentina mount a rare attack in this half and it was Walsh, again, doing the hard work at the back to make the tackle and bring the ball forward. Argentina have lost a player to a green card and Great Britain need to take advantage of the power play. They can't. Argentina just stand there, calm, unruffled and refused to be pressured into a mistake.
This is where Argentina's recent experiences in major competitions is paying off. They know they have a comfortable lead and that it is up to Great Britain to do all the work. All they need to do is stand strong and not make any silly mistakes.
A real chance for Great Britain saw the ball fall to Richardsen. She has all the time in the world to get off a shot but snatches at it and top edges the ball. That's the best chance Great Britain has created and it has been wasted. With less than 15 minutes left on the clock, that could be a game changer.
If Great Britain are to get anything out of this game it has to come from Cullen, Danson and Richardson. At the back, Walsh is giving it everything she can while Storry has had nothing to do so far in this half.
Great Britain are now beginning to lose the battle for the 50/50 balls in the centre but the umpires intervene and Argentina have Aymar sent off on a green card. Another two minutes for Great Britain to try and create chances. Argentine defenders put in some fantastic tackles, forcing their opponents to once again go down a blind alley. Any Great Britain player on the ball is finding it increasingly hard to see their team mates.
Argentina bring the ball away and Aymar is now back on the pitch. With seven minutes to go, Argentina are down the Great Britain end of the pitch. Great Britain desperately need to get the ball downt the other end of the pitch and get shots on goal. They've had plenty of possession but not in the D where it counts.
Great Britain win another free hit outside the Argentine D, the ball is fired across and it's tipped into the net by who else but Danson. The score is 2-1 and there is still just enough time for Great Britain to salvage something here.
The goal has woken the crowd up and they are getting behind the home side. Argentina are trying to slow the game down and eventually get a warning off of the umpires about wasting time. Great Britain are mounting more desperate attacks on the Argentine goal but it just isn't happening. A quick break by Argentina and there is a threat to the Great Britain goal but Storry is out and down very quickly to snuff it out.
The hooter goes and Argentina have won this hard fought match 2-1. They were unquestionably the better side on the night although Great Britain have played themselves to a virtual standstill.
All over the pitch, there are Great Britain players on their knees and in tears. On another day, they might have made more of their chances but now they have to pick themselves up and get ready for the bronze medal match against New Zealand in two days time.
For Argentina. this was a competent performance and they will be looking forward to what promises to be a cracking match against Netherlands for the gold medal
For Great Britain, the talismanic Kate Walsh will definitely start despite her surgery a week ago. Crista Cullen, the outstanding penalty corner specialist at this tournament will need to be on her very best if she is to beat Laura del Colle in the Argentine goal.
The last time the majority of these players met, was the Champions Trophy 2011 in Argentina. On that day, Argentina beat England and the English players in this team will be looking to avenge that defeat, especially as they now have home advantage
If the first semi-final was tight and end-to-end stuff, this one will be even more so. Both sides will want to win this in normal time and avoid the lottery of golden goal extra time and the new format shoot out. The winners will be the team that can run for the whole 70 minutes and keep their composure under pressure. The two goalkeepers, Laura del Colle and Beth Storry will have a long hard night and neither of them will be looking forward to the thought of the shoot out at the end of a long evening.
First Half
Great Britain got the first attack in, driving the ball down the right hand side and deep into the Argentine 23m. After a few attempts to get the ball in to the D it finally went off the back line, allowing Argentina to relieve the pressure. Great Britain quickly win the ball back and put in another attack but once again it comes to nothing.
After being muscled off the ball by the USA a few days ago, Argentina started the game with some very physical challenges and were warned by the umpire to calm down. All this with just two minutes of the match gone.
It didn't take long for Argentina to get their first chance at the Great Britain goal. A long ball, fired in that was easily swept away to the sideline. Argentina quickly took the sideline hit, drove into the D and picked up the first penalty corner. on replay, the ball seemed to be lifted but it would have been a hard call to disallow that and it was too early in the game for Great Britain to risk losing its referral to the video umpire
The ball was injected quickly, and Rodriguez Perez had just enough time to get the shot off, just evading the charging Cullen. The ball was low and to the left of Storry in the Great Britain goal and it's 1-0 to Argentina. This was just the start Argentina were looking for. From the restart, Great Britain looked to hit back and although they got the ball down to the Argentine D, they still couldn't do anything with it.
The sticks were beginning to really fly in now and Argentina picked up another warning from the umpires for loose stick play. The ball is back at the Argentine end of the pitch but Great Britain are still unable to get the shot away. Argentina bring the ball away and seem to have plenty of time to play it around the back. Some really loose passes here from both sides and the game goes a little quiet.
A Rebecchi drive into the Great Britain D almost led to a shot on goal but she was dispossessed just before she could get the shot off. Great Britain come away with the ball and Danson looked for room to run but she is being closely marked by as many as three players at times. Great Britain drove into the 23m area and a push in the back on Danson should have brought a penalty corner.
After all that sustained pressure from Great Britain, Argentina finally got a free hit and a chance to bring the ball away. The ball is moved quickly down the Argentine left to a player who is completely unmarked but Walsh got across quickly to make the tackle but instead gives away a free hit just outside the D. Argentina quickly take the hit but Walsh, looking a little intimidating in her face protection, wins the ball back, fairly this time.
Great Britain move the ball from side to side around the back and then go for the long arial down the right side but the whole move goes nowhere. Argentina took the sideline hit quickly but it runs off the far end of the pitch. Danson gets another chance to drive the ball into the Argentine D and wins a sideline hit. Great Britain move the ball around the back until Walsh tried the long forward pass which goes harmlessly off the end of the pitch.
Cullen went up in support of the attack as Great Britain tried to pin Argentina into their own D. The heavy marking on Danson should be creating much more room for other players. Unfortunately, Great Britain aren't taking advantage of this. A mistake by Great Britain allowed Argentina to launch forward into the Great Britain 23m area. Good defending from Great Britain but the clearance went back to Argentina who win a free hit.
Composure will be the key to this game and at the moment, Argentina look the more composed when on the ball, both in attack and defence.
A spate of missed tackles by Great Britain left them perilously close to the umpires reaching for their green cards. Too many of the Great Britain clearances are now going straight to Argentine sticks. As a result, the ball keeps coming back and back. Great Britain are also slow on the ball, which has allowed Argentina to win the ball in key areas of the pitch.
Not only are Great Britain having a problem clearing the ball from their 23m but Richardson is getting very animated out there, shouting at her own team mates and needs to calm down and keep her head. Thomas came back to collect the ball, drove it forward to the Argentine 23m and then shot it into the D where it was deflected off the back line. Argentina are constantly getting everyone behind the ball to prevent any Great Britain shot and eventually they get a free hit and clear the ball.
Great Britain intercept and drive the ball back in again but they just cannot find a telling ball into the D and get anyone on it. Attack after attack from Great Britain ends in a free hit to Argentina. Great Britain are lucky not to have lost a player to a yellow card when a stick is lifted into the face of Habif. Argentina are quickly back on the attack first down the left, then the right and then back down the left. Finally they get some room on the Great Britain right but Walsh comes away with the ball.
With just over 6 minutes to go, Argentina came forward looking for a second goal but Aymar is denied by some great work from Storry. Although she is able to get the rebound, it goes harmlessly over the bar. Great Britain quickly get the ball to the Argentine end of the pitch and under extreme pressure, Danson manages to manufacture a shot from nothing, which just goes wide of the post.
Argentina's response was to get the ball forward through an arial ball but it goes nowhere and Great Britain turn it around and go back on that attack. The problem is that the ball once again goes to a player who tries to run through the entire Argentine defence giving away the ball in the processes.
Great Britain are now missing tackle after tackle and have allowed Rebecchi to take the ball to the back line and drive into the D. Storry comes to make the tackle but a fabulous bit of skill from Rebecchi moves the ball beyond Storry and then she just rolls it into the goal. 2-0 Argentina. The two recovering Great Britain defenders were just too slow to react and prevent the ball going over the line.
Great Britain players are arguing with umpire Roach about an offence which cannot be reviewed and if they are not careful, somebody is going to be sent off.
From the restart, Great Britain get the ball into the Argentine area but just can't create a scoring opportunity. Argentina bring the ball away and Great Britain just need to see out the last few seconds of this half and get into the changing room and reset their minds.
Despite the possession that Great Britain had in the first half, they were unable to turn it into any meaningful attack or shot on goal. As the half went on, play got more an more animated and composure went out of the window. If Great Britain are to get back into this match, they need to find a quick goal at the start of the second half and then contain Argentina.
Second Half
Great Britain started the second half in the same manner as the first half. Long ball into the Argentine 23m area but it rolls off the back line, allowing Argentina to get it clear. Great Britain intercepted the ball from the restart and moved it across the pitch to Danson who drove in to the D, winning a free hit.
The ball goes into the D and although Great Britain once again failed to get off a decent shot, they did win a penalty corner. Cullen steps up, the ball is injected, stopped and brave running from an Argentine defender forced the ball out of play at the sideline. Danson has taken the hit quickly but made a mess of it, allowing Argentina to take their time and get the ball away.
The relieving ball sails into the crowd and Great Britain have taken the free hit and driven themselves back into the Argentine 23m area. Thomas is once again isolated with the ball and this has happened all too often. Whenever Great Britain have had possession, the Argentine defence has isolated the player on the ball and nobody has made a post run to help them find a route out.
Thomas is winning free hit after free hit but she has nowhere to go, Eventually the ball goes over the back line and Argentina get a chance to put the ball in the Great Britain half. It was a poor clearance and Great Britain have once again driven the ball toward the Argentine D but there is nobody able to get a shot onto the goalkeeper.
The game has now settled into a pattern. Great Britain put Argentina under pressure in their half of the pitch, run out of options and Argentina hit the ball long and off the Great Britain back line. This forces Great Britain to turn around, collect the ball and start again. It might not be pretty hockey but it is effective and it is eating up the time.
Walsh is working very hard, feeding the ball forward to the midfield who are trying to get the ball into Danson or Richardsen but the final balls are just not coming off. Danson gets the ball again, drives through two Argentine players and wins another free hit just outside the D. The hit is taken, the ball fired in but it is easily cleared by the massed Argentine defence. Once again, a Great Britain player has the ball and finds themself surrounded by three Argentine defenders who win the free hit.
So far, this half has seen a huge improvement in effort by Great Britain but they just can't seem to get any reward for all their hard work.
Argentina finally have some respite and have driven the ball into the Great Britain 23m. Solid defending by Great Britain forces Argentina to bring the ball back out to the midfield and after a short exchange of tackles and some misjudged passes by both sides, Great Britain are once again on the attack, Danson has made her way into the Argentine D but the shot is weak, right at the goalkeeper and she takes her time and just kicks it clear to the sideline.
Argentina come away with the ball down their left but it has been put out for a long corner. After some good defending from Great Britain, they win a sideline hit and can once again drive down to the Argentine end of the pitch. Argentina are once again tackling aggressively and eventually win the ball back. Back chat from the Great Britain forwards sees the umpire move the free hit up 10 metres. Great Britain in danger of losing their composure again.
There are just 19 minutes left in this game and both teams have put in a huge amount of running so far and it will soon begin to tell on player fitness. Great Britain have another opportunity in the Argentine D but the attacker is too slow getting the shot off and the defender has time to just steal the ball off of their stick.
Argentina mount a rare attack in this half and it was Walsh, again, doing the hard work at the back to make the tackle and bring the ball forward. Argentina have lost a player to a green card and Great Britain need to take advantage of the power play. They can't. Argentina just stand there, calm, unruffled and refused to be pressured into a mistake.
This is where Argentina's recent experiences in major competitions is paying off. They know they have a comfortable lead and that it is up to Great Britain to do all the work. All they need to do is stand strong and not make any silly mistakes.
A real chance for Great Britain saw the ball fall to Richardsen. She has all the time in the world to get off a shot but snatches at it and top edges the ball. That's the best chance Great Britain has created and it has been wasted. With less than 15 minutes left on the clock, that could be a game changer.
If Great Britain are to get anything out of this game it has to come from Cullen, Danson and Richardson. At the back, Walsh is giving it everything she can while Storry has had nothing to do so far in this half.
Great Britain are now beginning to lose the battle for the 50/50 balls in the centre but the umpires intervene and Argentina have Aymar sent off on a green card. Another two minutes for Great Britain to try and create chances. Argentine defenders put in some fantastic tackles, forcing their opponents to once again go down a blind alley. Any Great Britain player on the ball is finding it increasingly hard to see their team mates.
Argentina bring the ball away and Aymar is now back on the pitch. With seven minutes to go, Argentina are down the Great Britain end of the pitch. Great Britain desperately need to get the ball downt the other end of the pitch and get shots on goal. They've had plenty of possession but not in the D where it counts.
Great Britain win another free hit outside the Argentine D, the ball is fired across and it's tipped into the net by who else but Danson. The score is 2-1 and there is still just enough time for Great Britain to salvage something here.
The goal has woken the crowd up and they are getting behind the home side. Argentina are trying to slow the game down and eventually get a warning off of the umpires about wasting time. Great Britain are mounting more desperate attacks on the Argentine goal but it just isn't happening. A quick break by Argentina and there is a threat to the Great Britain goal but Storry is out and down very quickly to snuff it out.
The hooter goes and Argentina have won this hard fought match 2-1. They were unquestionably the better side on the night although Great Britain have played themselves to a virtual standstill.
All over the pitch, there are Great Britain players on their knees and in tears. On another day, they might have made more of their chances but now they have to pick themselves up and get ready for the bronze medal match against New Zealand in two days time.
For Argentina. this was a competent performance and they will be looking forward to what promises to be a cracking match against Netherlands for the gold medal
Netherlands vs New Zealand, Olympics 2012 Hockey Semi-final
Coming into this game Netherlands were unbeaten in their group matches while New Zealand had come through the extremely hard group B in second place. Netherlands were clear favourites before the game started but there were some significant questions over their attack.
First half
Right from the start of this game we saw end to end hockey. Both sides had decided that this was not a match where they should be sitting back letting the other attack first, so they went out with one aim, score!
Both goalkeepers, Sombroek and Russell, were involved in early action making great saves from open field play. At the same time, both defences were having to work hard to contain the opposing forwards.
In the end, it was New Zealand who struck first with a goal from a penalty corner. The ball was pushed out, hit slightly wide of the post and deflected in. 1-0 New Zealand. The response was immediate as Netherlands piled forward looking for a quick response. But as fast as they went forward, they left gaps for New Zealand to exploit and had to chase back and defend.
With neither side able to get past some excellent defensive tackling and good goalkeeping, it looked like New Zealand would go into the half-time break with their lead intact. Netherlands are not a team that is easily beaten and they would have been aware of the psychological advantage that a half time lead would give their opponents. Time and again they attacked the New Zealand goal but each time they were thwarted and found themselves chasing back hard to stop any chance of a breakaway goal.
New Zealand had a great opportunity for a second goal towards the end of the first half but the penalty corner strike was poor. This gave Netherlands a chance to push forward and win their own penalty corner. Surprisingly for a Netherlands side, penalty corners have not yielded the number of goals at these Olympics that we have come to expect from them. There was no mistake this time as Paumen hammered the ball home and the game went into half-time all tied at 1-1.
The first half was probably just shaded by New Zealand in terms of possession and creativity but they were unable to properly exploit that and take a solid lead into the half-time break. Having fought back into this match, Netherlands would have wanted to start dominating play in the second half.
Second Half
The second half opened with the same flowing, end-to-end hockey that we'd seen in the first half. Both sides had the chance to score from open play but neither was able to put the ball away and Netherlands were the first to win a penalty corner but Paumen wasted it high over the bar. New Zealand poured forward looking for their own penalty corner but Netherlands were ready for them.
For a while, we had stalemate in the middle of the field with both sides losing the ball a little too easily. Balls didn't go to sticks, tackles were missed and the game looked like it could get messy. However, a quick Netherlands attack lead to a shot from the top of the D drew a good clearance kick from Russell.
In the ensuing melee, as Netherlands looked for another shot, Glynn came in from the wrong side and took a real crack on the top of the head. For those who saw the match on TV, it really was a hard hit but these are hockey players, not footballers and there was no pushing, shoving, mobbing the umpire or demanding a player sent off. Play was stopped for a while as Glynn was treated and the pitch was cleaned to remove the blood spill.
When the game got underway again, New Zealand found it hard to get into the Netherlands end of the pitch. The Netherlands, in turn, were getting into the New Zealand D reasonably easily but just couldn't get the ball to a stick in order to get a shot away. A quick New Zealand break and Forgesson who had just come on was unmarked in the Netherlands D. Shot was on target and the ball is in the back of the net. Good work from New Zealand, good strike from Forgesson but awful goalkeeping from Sombroek who got just about everything wrong. 2-1 New Zealand.
As the match restarted, there was some aggressive recovery tackling from Netherlands which was just on the right side of legal. This seemed to unsettle one or two of the New Zealand players. After driving into the New Zealand D, Netherlands got a penalty corner courtesy of the video referral. A fantastic, unstoppable drag flick from Paumen resulted in an absolute peach of a goal. High, right in the top corner and beyond the reach of Russell. Match tied at 2-2.
Within a minute, New Zealand got a penalty corner at the other end but were unable to convert it. Back came Netherlands and immediately won another penalty corner. This time, instead of the drag flick they tried to be a little too elaborate and Paumen made a complete mess of it.
Going into the last 10 minutes, this game was well poised although New Zealand were turning the ball over just a little too easily. Netherlands, by comparison, were so focused on going forward that they were beginning to miss tackles at the back. Anything could happen and Glynn, having been stitched up, returned to the pitch.
As both sides struggled for the winner in normal time, gaps started to appear. Netherlands had a real opportunity when New Zealand failed to pick up the striker but the ball went wide. Taking the ball up the other end, New Zealand failed to win a penalty corner, after a long delay for a video referral but it wasn't long before they did win a penalty corner with just over four minutes left.
The first shot was not only just too high but well saved by Sombroek. Netherlands drove the ball back up field and should have had a penalty corner but a miscommunication between the umpires denied them. With just a minute to go, Netherlands should have scored the winner but twice, in the last minute, they failed to convert their chances, allowing New Zealand to see out the clock and take the match to extra time.
The second half in this game was much more hotly contested than the first with chances galore for both sides. Only a combination of poor finishing and some good goalkeeping took this match to golden goal extra time.
Extra Time
Netherlands were the first to attack in search of the golden goal but New Zealand got the ball clear. With both sides feeling the pressure, it was no surprise that there were a lot of missed tackles and speculative long passes. With just a minute left of the first period, New Zealand drove the entire length of the field but were unable to get a goal.
Right at the start of the second period of extra time New Zealand had a great opportunity but the ball refused to go to a stick. Flynn was then shown a yellow card meaning she would be off until the last minute. The question now was, could the Netherlands take advantage of the extra player advantage? They immediately drove into the New Zealand D and won a penalty corner.
Throughout this competition, Paumen has had real problems getting the ball on target and this time she missed the goal to her left. A player down, New Zealand had to take a chance and go on the attack but that meant leaving space at the back for Netherlands to exploit. Although New Zealand had several chances to get the golden goal, they just couldn't find a way through a strong Netherlands defence.
With less than a minute to play and both sides back to full strength, it was Netherlands on the attack and New Zealand clinging on. The whistle blew and that was it. No golden goal and it was time for the shoot out.
Shoot Out
Netherlands won the toss and elected to go first.
Van As went at the keeper, moved to her left and Russell followed her. A quick reverse of the stick and Van As was round Russel. 1-0
Next up was Sharland for New Zealand. Trying the direct approch she went straight at Sombroek who cleared the ball off of her pads. 1-0
Paumen tried to get around Russell who made a great save. 1-0
Michelsen pulled Sombroek to the side, darted back and slipped the ball just inside the post 1-1
De Goede decided that the direct approach was best. Picked up the ball, drove to the top of the D and unleashed a fearsome strike that beat Russell. 2-1
Flynn now had a chance to equalise but went too close to Sombroek making it easy for the keeper to save. 2-1
Van Geffen looked like she was going to emulate De Goede but Russell was off her line like a whippet and cleared the ball. 2-1
Punt tried to pull Sombroek wide but went too wide allowing the keeper to close down the angle and make an easy save 2-1.
With just one player from each team to go it was down to Hoog to win it for Netherlands. In she came, faked to shoot, down went Russell and Hoog took her time to put the ball in the back of the net. 3-1 Netherlands and they advance to the final, leaving New Zealand to play for bronze.
This shootout format is definately much better than penalty strokes and gives the GK more chance while making it more entertaining for the spectators.
If you want all the stats from the game you can find them here
First half
Right from the start of this game we saw end to end hockey. Both sides had decided that this was not a match where they should be sitting back letting the other attack first, so they went out with one aim, score!
Both goalkeepers, Sombroek and Russell, were involved in early action making great saves from open field play. At the same time, both defences were having to work hard to contain the opposing forwards.
In the end, it was New Zealand who struck first with a goal from a penalty corner. The ball was pushed out, hit slightly wide of the post and deflected in. 1-0 New Zealand. The response was immediate as Netherlands piled forward looking for a quick response. But as fast as they went forward, they left gaps for New Zealand to exploit and had to chase back and defend.
With neither side able to get past some excellent defensive tackling and good goalkeeping, it looked like New Zealand would go into the half-time break with their lead intact. Netherlands are not a team that is easily beaten and they would have been aware of the psychological advantage that a half time lead would give their opponents. Time and again they attacked the New Zealand goal but each time they were thwarted and found themselves chasing back hard to stop any chance of a breakaway goal.
New Zealand had a great opportunity for a second goal towards the end of the first half but the penalty corner strike was poor. This gave Netherlands a chance to push forward and win their own penalty corner. Surprisingly for a Netherlands side, penalty corners have not yielded the number of goals at these Olympics that we have come to expect from them. There was no mistake this time as Paumen hammered the ball home and the game went into half-time all tied at 1-1.
The first half was probably just shaded by New Zealand in terms of possession and creativity but they were unable to properly exploit that and take a solid lead into the half-time break. Having fought back into this match, Netherlands would have wanted to start dominating play in the second half.
Second Half
The second half opened with the same flowing, end-to-end hockey that we'd seen in the first half. Both sides had the chance to score from open play but neither was able to put the ball away and Netherlands were the first to win a penalty corner but Paumen wasted it high over the bar. New Zealand poured forward looking for their own penalty corner but Netherlands were ready for them.
For a while, we had stalemate in the middle of the field with both sides losing the ball a little too easily. Balls didn't go to sticks, tackles were missed and the game looked like it could get messy. However, a quick Netherlands attack lead to a shot from the top of the D drew a good clearance kick from Russell.
In the ensuing melee, as Netherlands looked for another shot, Glynn came in from the wrong side and took a real crack on the top of the head. For those who saw the match on TV, it really was a hard hit but these are hockey players, not footballers and there was no pushing, shoving, mobbing the umpire or demanding a player sent off. Play was stopped for a while as Glynn was treated and the pitch was cleaned to remove the blood spill.
When the game got underway again, New Zealand found it hard to get into the Netherlands end of the pitch. The Netherlands, in turn, were getting into the New Zealand D reasonably easily but just couldn't get the ball to a stick in order to get a shot away. A quick New Zealand break and Forgesson who had just come on was unmarked in the Netherlands D. Shot was on target and the ball is in the back of the net. Good work from New Zealand, good strike from Forgesson but awful goalkeeping from Sombroek who got just about everything wrong. 2-1 New Zealand.
As the match restarted, there was some aggressive recovery tackling from Netherlands which was just on the right side of legal. This seemed to unsettle one or two of the New Zealand players. After driving into the New Zealand D, Netherlands got a penalty corner courtesy of the video referral. A fantastic, unstoppable drag flick from Paumen resulted in an absolute peach of a goal. High, right in the top corner and beyond the reach of Russell. Match tied at 2-2.
Within a minute, New Zealand got a penalty corner at the other end but were unable to convert it. Back came Netherlands and immediately won another penalty corner. This time, instead of the drag flick they tried to be a little too elaborate and Paumen made a complete mess of it.
Going into the last 10 minutes, this game was well poised although New Zealand were turning the ball over just a little too easily. Netherlands, by comparison, were so focused on going forward that they were beginning to miss tackles at the back. Anything could happen and Glynn, having been stitched up, returned to the pitch.
As both sides struggled for the winner in normal time, gaps started to appear. Netherlands had a real opportunity when New Zealand failed to pick up the striker but the ball went wide. Taking the ball up the other end, New Zealand failed to win a penalty corner, after a long delay for a video referral but it wasn't long before they did win a penalty corner with just over four minutes left.
The first shot was not only just too high but well saved by Sombroek. Netherlands drove the ball back up field and should have had a penalty corner but a miscommunication between the umpires denied them. With just a minute to go, Netherlands should have scored the winner but twice, in the last minute, they failed to convert their chances, allowing New Zealand to see out the clock and take the match to extra time.
The second half in this game was much more hotly contested than the first with chances galore for both sides. Only a combination of poor finishing and some good goalkeeping took this match to golden goal extra time.
Extra Time
Netherlands were the first to attack in search of the golden goal but New Zealand got the ball clear. With both sides feeling the pressure, it was no surprise that there were a lot of missed tackles and speculative long passes. With just a minute left of the first period, New Zealand drove the entire length of the field but were unable to get a goal.
Right at the start of the second period of extra time New Zealand had a great opportunity but the ball refused to go to a stick. Flynn was then shown a yellow card meaning she would be off until the last minute. The question now was, could the Netherlands take advantage of the extra player advantage? They immediately drove into the New Zealand D and won a penalty corner.
Throughout this competition, Paumen has had real problems getting the ball on target and this time she missed the goal to her left. A player down, New Zealand had to take a chance and go on the attack but that meant leaving space at the back for Netherlands to exploit. Although New Zealand had several chances to get the golden goal, they just couldn't find a way through a strong Netherlands defence.
With less than a minute to play and both sides back to full strength, it was Netherlands on the attack and New Zealand clinging on. The whistle blew and that was it. No golden goal and it was time for the shoot out.
Shoot Out
Netherlands won the toss and elected to go first.
Van As went at the keeper, moved to her left and Russell followed her. A quick reverse of the stick and Van As was round Russel. 1-0
Next up was Sharland for New Zealand. Trying the direct approch she went straight at Sombroek who cleared the ball off of her pads. 1-0
Paumen tried to get around Russell who made a great save. 1-0
Michelsen pulled Sombroek to the side, darted back and slipped the ball just inside the post 1-1
De Goede decided that the direct approach was best. Picked up the ball, drove to the top of the D and unleashed a fearsome strike that beat Russell. 2-1
Flynn now had a chance to equalise but went too close to Sombroek making it easy for the keeper to save. 2-1
Van Geffen looked like she was going to emulate De Goede but Russell was off her line like a whippet and cleared the ball. 2-1
Punt tried to pull Sombroek wide but went too wide allowing the keeper to close down the angle and make an easy save 2-1.
With just one player from each team to go it was down to Hoog to win it for Netherlands. In she came, faked to shoot, down went Russell and Hoog took her time to put the ball in the back of the net. 3-1 Netherlands and they advance to the final, leaving New Zealand to play for bronze.
This shootout format is definately much better than penalty strokes and gives the GK more chance while making it more entertaining for the spectators.
If you want all the stats from the game you can find them here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)