Hockey World Cup 2014 Day 6 review: Argentina stun New Zealand

The Argentina hockey team
The Argentina hockey team

Giant killers Argentina who had defeated Germany in the World Cup continued their stunning form as they got another win, this time against New Zealand with a margin of 3-1. The rest of the games saw Korea playing a 0-0 draw against South Africa while Netherlands beat Germany 1-0.

New Zealand vs Argentina

Entering the game as the favourites, the Black Sticks got their first chance in the game when Simon Child cut in from the right flank and hit a reverse stick shot only for the ball to hit the post. Three minutes later Steve Edwards got a close range shot on goal but the same was saved by Argentina’s goalkeeper Vivaldi. The first half of the game ended with both teams unable to find the net.

The second half was Argentina’s show as penalty corner expert Gonzalo Peillat scored off the game’s first penalty corner to give Argentina a 1-0 lead 9 minutes into the start of play. Six minutes later New Zealand levelled the score as Jenness found a deflection from a Phil Burrows free hit taken from Argentina’s 25.

Argentina took two minutes to seize back the initiative as Peillat scored another penalty corner to give Argentina 2-1 lead in the game and with 7 minutes to go, Peillat completed his hat-trick to seal the game 3-1 in favour of Argentina.

The win has taken Argentina to third place behind Netherlands and New Zealand and given them a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.

Korea vs South Africa

The second game of the day saw Korea play a 0-0 draw against South Africa thanks to some great goal keeping by Korean keeper Lee Myungho. The result gave both teams their first point of the tournament but neither team has any chance of making it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

The first half of the game was really disappointing as neither team got any chance to score with South Africa dominating the game. The second half of the game saw South Africa's Julian Hykes miss a wonderful chance to open the scoring early on, as he burst through on goal but fired wide of Myungho's left post.

The 53rd minute of the game saw Korean penalty corner expert Jang Jonghyun sending a powerful flick into the roof of the goal but the goal was over ruled after South Africa asked for a video referral. The ball had hit rusher Jonathan Robinson above the knee on its way, and the goal was ruled out because of dangerous play.

The disallowed goal rattled Korean attackers as South Africa started gaining the upper hand in the match. Korean keeper Lee Myungho made some brilliant saves in the game to deny Lloyd Norris-Jones first and Wade Paton's penalty corner later. The last minute of the game saw South Africa winning three penalty corners but all were saved by the alert Korean defence.

Germany vs Netherlands

The best games of the tournament are not often about how many goals are scored but about the quality of play on show. Yesterday’s game between Netherland and Germany has to go down in the history books as one of the best games ever played.

Germany, who needed a win to stay alive in the competition, were under pressure from the very first minute of the game as the Netherlands midfield and attack bombarded the German defence. German goalkeeper Jacobi was brought on early in the game and he had to make two saves with just 5 minutes on the clock, as he denied Billy Bakker and then Robbert Kemperman.

The pressure applied by Netherlands finally paid off as Jeroen Hertzber took Galema’s pass in the 19th minute to give the team a well deserved lead. Netherlands again got a chance in the 32nd minute of the game but alert Jacobi denied Kemperman the chance to double the lead.

Germany started the second half better but they still could not find a way past the Dutch defence. With the German team on full attack mode, Netherlands switched to counter attack and won two penalty corners which Mink van Weerden failed to convert.

The last 15 minutes of the match were just about attack and counter-attack as the match continued at a blistering pace. There were chances at both ends with both Benjamin Wess and Benedict Furks missing opportunities, and then the Germans failing to get out of penalty corners received by them.

Mink van Weerden was furious after missing the two earlier penalty corners and then got another chance, but his powerful drag flick broke Martin Haner's stick in half.

The final minutes of the game saw Germany getting a penalty corner but the flick was wide of the goal, sending Netherlands team and fans into raptures.

The win has taken Netherlands to the top of the table while Olympics champions Germany are lying in the fourth position.

Quick Links

Edited by Staff Editor