HWC2018: Rise of the lower-ranked nations

    There are 16 teams at the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup, London 2018, and after the first two days of action, it is clear that the competition is one of the most wide open contests in the event’s history. BUY WORLD CUP TICKETS At the end of Day 1, England (FIH Hero World Ranking: 2) had drawn with India (WR:10); Ireland (WR:16) had thoroughly quashed USA (WR:7), and Australia (WR:5) were taken to the wire by Japan (WR:12). Only Germany’s (WR:6) 3-1 win over South Africa (WR:14) reflected the rankings. Day 2 got even more interesting as the lowest ranked team, Italy (WR:17) took Asian giants China (WR:8) apart to record a 3-0 victory. Spain (WR:11) momentarily led Argentina (WR:3) and Belgium (WR:13) were unlucky in their 4-2 loss at the hands of New Zealand. World number one side, Netherlands bucked the trend as they romped to a faultless 7-0 win over Korea (WR:9). We spoke to Belgium’s Jill Boon after her team’s narrow loss to higher-ranked New Zealand. She explained that key to closing the gap between the top 10 teams and those in the ‘teens is a focus on fitness. “In the past we lost a lot of games because we were not fit or not fit enough but we have worked really hard in the past few years and now we are really, really fit.” Jill Boon, Belgium “We wanted to start our tournament with full determination and we did that and I don’t think New Zealand expected us to be as aggressive as we were from the off. There were moments in the game and small details where they had the upper hand because they are higher ranked and have that extra edge that comes from experience. They showed that in scoring two corners and a stroke.” The current Belgium team has been on an upward trajectory over the past four years. The Red Panthers finished in 12th and last place at the 2014 Rabobank World Cup in the Hague. Then they were comprehensively outplayed but now, with a silver at the 2017 Rabobank EuroHockey Championships under their belt, they are a team that oozes new found belief. “In the past we lost a lot of games because we were not fit or not fit enough but we have worked really hard in the past few years and now we are really, really fit,” says Boon. “But teams like New Zealand, well they have players like Stacey Michelsen and Anita McLaren and they are another league, in fact they are the best in the world when it comes to fitness and speed. “We have made huge steps forwards. We play with a huge amount of passion and we really celebrate every goal now. Today we lost but we also scored goals and competed and that is where we want to be. The most important game for us is against Japan so today [against New Zealand] we will take all the positives, learn from the mistakes and make progress that way. “The fact that we are fitter and can do extra metres that is what our coach Niels Thijssen has been telling us. If you want to compete with those teams you have to make those extra metres to make yourself free and give yourself space. We also have very creative and hard-working midfielders who can find us when we make leading runs.” Jill Boon is one of the stars of the Belgium Red Panthers who are in action on Tuesday 24 July against Australia at 14:30 (CEST+1). For all news and information regarding the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup click here. #HWC2018 Source: FIH

    Ireland produce performance of the day as Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup bursts into life

      A mammoth crowd packed into east London’s Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre to witness some fabulous action in the first Saturday of the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018. Four stellar matches ensured that this eagerly anticipated competition got off to the best possible start. The opening session of the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018 was a witnessed by a crowd of 10,500 being thoroughly entertained by two cracking matches, with Germany producing a classy performance to overpower Pool C rivals South Africa before the partisan crowd watched England claim a draw against India in Pool B. Germany (FIH Hero World Ranking: 6) made a superb start to their World Cup campaign with a deserved victory over a South Africa (WR:14) team that did not make it easy for the team coached by Xavier Reckinger in the competition opener. Die Danas were the better side in the opening period, controlling possession and creating chances to force some good early saves from South Africa goalkeeper Phumelela Mbande before the opening goal arrived a minute before the quarter-time break. Viktoria Huse scored the first goal of what promises to be an wonderful World Cup competition in London, deceiving Mbande with a smart turn before passing into an open goal. Germany extended their advantage two minutes into the third quarter when the excellent Charlotte Stapenhorst fired home from close range before South Africa, who grew in confidence as the game progressed, hit back thanks to a deflected penalty corner slap-shot from Lisa-Marie Deetlefs. However, few would argue that Germany were worthy winners, with Huse claiming her second of the match from the penalty spot in the 54th minute to seal a 3-1 victory for Germany. “We have been together for three weeks and we had a tournament in Germany that was the start of all of this”, said Germany’s two-goal star Huse after the match. “We are here to win, for sure. We have a good team and we all know each other very well. There is a great atmosphere in our camp.” With a full house watching on, the atmosphere during the contest between home favourites England (WR:2) and Asian continental champions India (WR:10) was intense throughout. “I think as we are competitive people we can become fixated with the result and we are probably disappointed with it, but focusing on the level of performance, particularly in that second half, we absolutely dominated and I can’t ask for more” Danny Kerry, England Head Coach. England thrilled the home fans by winning but failing to convert a penalty corner in the opening seconds, but India were far from overawed by the occasion. The Eves were the first team to have a shot in anger, with England’s Maddie Hinch comfortably kicking clear a strike from Navjot Kaur. England had a penalty stroke overturned by the video umpire in a second quarter where they were unusually wasteful in front of goal, something that they were left to rue in the 25th minute when Neha Goyal deflected home from close range to give India a 1-0 lead at half time. The hosts spent most of the third quarter camped in Indian territory, with Alex Danson and Lily Owsley both growing in stature as the game progressed thanks to their trademark bursts forward. Owsley was particularly influential in the final quarter, and when Hinch was replaced with an attacking player with ten minutes remaining, the breakthrough that England had been searching for arrived. Owsley was the scorer of the equaliser, forcing home from close range six minutes from time after India failed to effectively clear their lines from a penalty corner, ensuring that the match finished with the honours even at 1-1. Speaking after the game, England Head Coach Danny Kerry said: “I think as we are competitive people we can become fixated with the result and we are probably disappointed with it, but focusing on the level of performance, particularly in that second half, we absolutely dominated and I can’t ask for more. The atmosphere was amazing, you could really feel the crowd getting behind us in that second half.” The second session at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre contained unquestionably the best match of the day, as USA (WR:7) and Ireland (WR:16) were involved in a hugely entertaining, fiercely contested game that upset the FIH Hero World Rankings. Ireland claimed a stunning 3-1 victory over the Americans, a result which saw the second lowest ranked team in the competition end Day 1 sitting top of the Pool B table. The Green Army – playing their first World Cup match for 16 years – were outstanding in the opening quarter, taking a 1-0 lead after just five minutes when Deirdre Duke produced a calm and collected finish after finding herself one-on-one with USA shot-stopper Jackie Briggs. That advantage was doubled thanks to a fierce penalty corner strike from Shirley McCay, but an ingenious penalty corner routine from the Americans, finished off by Margaux Paolino, made the score 2-1 at the end of the first quarter. USA were very much in the ascendency in the second quarter, but they could not find a way past outstanding Ireland goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, who was named Vitality Player of the Match. While McFerran was in sparkling form, her goal also lead a charmed life when another wonderful USA penalty corner routine hit the crossbar ahead of a half time. The killer blow arrived six minutes after half time and again it was Duke who was the scorer, finishing off a rapid counter-attack with a close range strike that rattled the pads of USA goalkeeper Briggs before bouncing over the line to give Ireland a shock victory over a team that finished fourth at the 2014 World Cup in The Hague. “We just decided to go out and enjoy it”, said delighted Ireland forward Anna O’Flanagan after the match. “We had a certain amount of confidence that we could win this game, we had

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      African Youth Games: Zambia shock Nigeria with 2 nil victory

        The Stade Ferhan experienced another day of silence as South Africa and Ghana humbled Algeria in the boys and girl’s category respectively. Matchday 3 commenced with Zambia facing Nigeria in the men’s category. The Nigerians were aching to make it two wins in succession with Zambia also aiming to top the table. Mulenga Dominic struck for Zambia as early as the 3rd minute. Skipper Mubanga Joseph increased the tally 60 seconds later to dent the hopes of Nigeria. The boys in green fought very hard but failed to change the scoreline as Zambia won 2-0. Namibia leapfrogged Zimbabwe into the second position with a 3-1 win over them. Zimbabwe went ahead through Kamusewu Tadiwanashe’s stick in the 9th minute of the game. The lead lasted for a minute with Namibia’s Neethling Nico restoring parity. Nico got his brace after the break to give Namibia the lead for the first time in the match. Namibia’s Rieckert Henco cemented their dominance in the 13th minute to lead by 2 goals. O’Riordan Tony reduced the deficit in the 16th minute but the 2 goal lead was restored three minutes later courtesy skipper Van de Merwe and Jan de Villiers scoring. Match ended Namibia 5-2 Zimbabwe. Perter Jarvis made the headline in the third game with a five-star performance as South Africa beat Algeria 9-0. Algeria making their first appearance in any hockey tournament improved their performance in their third game against the continental giants. The tournament’s top scorer got his brace within seven minutes after Campbell Jared and Maphumulo Mpumelelo had given South Africa a 2-0 lead. Jarvis scored in the 6th and 7th minute to make it 4-0. Maphumulo Mpumelelo got his second and South Africa’s 5th before Lewis Matthew made it 6-0 in the 15th minute. Jarvis finally got his hat-trick in the 16th minute and added his 4th and 5th in the 19th and 20th minute to complete the 9-0 win. The Algerian boys were enthused with their performance as it marks their first participation in hockey. Namibia and Zimbabwe engaged in a 6 goal thriller in the first game of the women’s category. The match was tied at halftime. Myburg Taramarie put Namibia in front in the 5th minute before Dobbie Ruvimbo levelled for Zimbabwe three minutes later. Namibia went 3-1 up after the breakthrough of Van Rooyen Joane and Cormack Kiana-Che in the 11th and 14th minute respectively. Zimbabwe responded quickly with an Alexi magic to reduce the deficit in the 16th minute and Terblanche Natalie getting the equaliser a minute later. The match ended Namibia 3-3 Zimbabwe. South Africa continued their winning streak with a 7-0 win over Nigeria. An entertaining, pulsating game saw both teams rue chances in the early minute. South Africa made-up for their early miss as De Waal Kayla got the opener. Welham Angela scored a quick brace to make it 3-0. Jean-Leah Toit added the fourth and Kayla made it 5-0 in the 17th minute. Welham scored two goals in the final two minutes to send her personal tally to nine goals and the tournament’s top scorer. In the last game for matchday 3, a rejuvenated Ghanaian squad scored 13 times and handed Algeria their 3rd defeat in three games. Asana Gbati put the West Africans ahead with two goals inside the first two minutes. It was 5-0 in the 5th minute as Ghana averaged a goal per minute. Otoo Eleanor, Quayson Racheal and Copson Hagiet the scorers. Asana grabbed her hat trick and added her 4th in the 7th minute. Akoto Charity also got her name on the score sheet to end the first half 8-0. Charity continued from where she stopped as she scored her brace a minute into the second half. Eleanor was back on the score sheet in the 14th minute with Charity completing her hat-trick two minutes later. Asana Gbati and Okine Dede completed the 13-0 victory with a goal each in the 17th and 18th minute respectively.

        African Youth Games: Tamarie’s late goal secures second spot for Namibia in Day 2

          Myburgh Taramarie’s 18th-minute strike helped Namibia stage a comeback against Ghana at the Stade Ferhani yesterday. Namibia took an early lead, five minutes into the game, through Cormach Kiana-Ohe’s strike. The dynamic skipper took advantage of a misunderstanding inside Ghana’s defence to slot home the opener. Ghana’s, Akoto Charity responded quickly in the 6th minute to restore parity. Donkor Rebecca, three minutes later, added the second to put Ghana ahead of the game. Kruger Jahntwa gave Namibia a glimpse of hope getting the equalizer in the 15th minute. Myburg Taramarie got the winner for Namibia with two minutes remaining. The clock ticked and time run out for Ghana as Namibia won 3-2. In the second game, Zimbabwe held tournament favourites, South Africa, to a 3-3 drawn game. De Waal Kayla put South Africa in front two minutes into the game before Hardie India doubled the lead three minutes later. Terblanche Alexi pulled one back for Zimbabwe before the break to reduce the tally to one. Zimbabwe looked different in the second half as their pressure paid off. Beekes Merceedes got the equalizer in the 11th minute. They surprisingly took the lead three minutes later through Terblanche Natalie. With a historic victory within sight, Hardie India stepped up to level for South Africa with her sixth goal of the tournament. Host Algeria played Nigeria in the girl’s last game of the day. The host succumbed to another defeat with a 0-2 loss. Skipper Christopher Joy (2nd min) and Familusi (16th min) got the goals for Nigeria to pick their first 3 points for the tournament. South Africa continued their dominance in the boy’s category with a 6-0 victory over Zimbabwe. Peter Javis opened the scoreline inside the first minute and got his brace two minutes later. Wynford Luke got his name on the score sheet with a fine effort in the 6th minute. In the 13th minute, Jarvis completed his hat trick with a ferocious hit. Two goals in the final two minutes; Cassiem Mustapha in the 19th minute and Lewis Matthew in the 20th minute sealed the win for South Africa. Namibia came from a goal down to beat Algeria 4-1 in the boy’s second game of the day. Aichaqui Jamel scored in the 5th minute to send the entire Stade Ferhani into wild celebrations. The mood shortened as Van der Merwe levelled for Namibia in the 9th minute. De Villiers Jan (13th min), Hansen Fagan (17th min) and McNally Craig (20th min) got their names on the score sheet as Namibia won 4-1. Nigeria overcame their day one setback to beat Kenya 2-1. John Peter got the opener for Nigeria in the 2nd minute before Usman Nathaniel made it 2-0 eight minutes later. Ludiali Ivan pulled one back for Kenya seconds later but time was not on their side as Nigeria grabbed all maximum points. Source: isports360.com