by Hockey Supporter
12. June 2009 05:12
Penalty stroke competition in Pool B
After Germany defeated Japan 3:1 and Australia won against South Africa 2:0 both teams have 10 points and a goal difference of 13:2. Now the matter who is first and who is second in Pool B will be solved by a penalty stroke competion later this evening.
Australia enter the medal-round
After beating South Africa the Australians will play on in a medal-round pool. The 2:0-victory gives the Kookaburras a place under the best two of Pool B. Their final ranking still depends on the result of the game Germany versus Japan. When Germany defeat Japan with a difference of two goals or less, Australia will be the winner of Pool B. Already before the match started both teams knew that only the winner will make it definitely to Pool E or F. That knowledge was probably the reason why both teams hesitated a lot at the beginning and needed some time to get into the game.
Australia played very well structured while South Africa´s attacks seemed a bit hectic when they reached the opponent´s circle. Nevertheless it was obviously that South Africa fought and really wanted to win to end up in the medal-round. In the 11th minute Kookaburra Michael Bates brought his country 1:0 in front. Just seven minutes later Aaron Kleinschmidt converted a rebound when South Africa was a bit confused where the ball went.
The second half was not that spectacular anymore because Australia defended well and it seemed that South Africa lost the hope to still have a chance to come back into the match.
Australia v South Africa 2:0 (2:0)
1:0 Michael BATES (FG), 2:0 Aaron KLEINSCHMIDT (FG)
Germany defeat Japan 3:1 and enters the medal round as well
In this game Japan needed to win with a goal difference of at least six goals to still reach the medal round. But they stood deep in their own half of the pitch and waited for German attacks. It took only four minutes until Georg Schacht took the advantage of some confusion in the Japanese defence to score the 1:0. German Felix Klein extended the lead. From this time on Germany seemed already satisfied. Japan played more active now and caught up through a penalty corner from captain Ryota Kubo.
Germany seemed as they got a wake-up call during halftime. Now they put Japan under pressure and kept also attacking when Niklas Grell was sent to the sin-bin. But the Germans were not able to score a field goal as well as to convert one of their penalty corners. At least Georg Schacht was successful when Germany received a penalty stroke.
This should have been a good practice for the upcoming penalty stroke competion between Australia and Germany. Japan finished 4th ranked in Pool B because South Africa have the better goal difference.
Germany v Japan 3:1 (2:1)
1:0 Georg SCHACHT (FG), 2:0 Felix KLEIN (FG), 2:1 Ryota KUBO (PC), 3:1 Georg SCHACHT (PS)
Junior Black Sticks are second in Pool D
New Zealand needed to win at least one point against the Netherlands to finish second in Pool D. But the Netherlands started very well organised and well structured what brought New Zealand into trubble. It seemed that the Junior Black Sticks did not really know how to play against the Dutch who were already qualified for the medal-round. Valentin Verga brought the Netherlands in front when he picked up a pass coming into the circle from the right side. After the 1:0 the match got a bit quite because the Netherlands concentrated on defending and New Zealand still struggled to find their way into the game.
After a penalty corner goal by Netherland´s top scorer Mink van der Weerden New Zealand seemed totally confused. Meanwhile the Netherlands gave their key players more time to rest and the other team-mates got their experiences. But now the Junior Black Sticks really found their way back into the game when Hugo Inglis came out of the blue and made the 2:1. After the goal they knew that they are able to equalize and kept up fighting. Their next penalty corner failed but a few minutes later they got a penalty stroke awarded. The stroke was taken by the most experienced Simon Child who had to score against his club-mate from Rotterdam, Pirmin Blaak, goalkeeper of the Netherlands. Child converted without any problems on the left side.
Now New Zealand just kept defending because one point would be enough to be in the medal round as second of Pool D. After the final whistle New Zealand celebrated their biggest success in their Junior World Cup history. It did not matter anymore how India played against Poland, the Junior Black Sticks grabbed the second available ticket. The Dutch are the winner of Pool D with ten points.
Netherlands v New Zealand 2:2 (1:0)
1:0 Valentin VERGA (FG), 2:0 Mink VAN DER WEERDEN (PC), 2:1 Hugo INGLIS (FG), 2:2 Simon CHILD (PS)
(source: worldhockey.org)
