Tokyo 2020, Day 5: Spain men keep quarter-final qualification hopes alive; Netherlands & Germany maintain control of Women’s Pool A

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Day 5 (Evening): An Oceania derby match triumph over New Zealand guaranteed Australia a top two finish in Men’s Pool A, while victory for Spain’s men over host nation Japan has boosted their own chances of reaching the quarter-final stages of the Tokyo 2020 Hockey competition. In Women’s Pool B, Australia and Argentina both earned important wins to strengthen their respective positions within the standings.

More information about the matches can be found below.


Women’s Pool B

Japan 0-1 Australia
Australia’s Hockeyroos made it three wins out of three and open up a three-point lead at the top of Pool B, battling to a narrow victory over hosts Japan to all but guarentee a berth in the competition quarter-finals. The result leaves Japan still searching for their first points of the competition, currently three points adrift of the quarter-final qualification places with two rounds of matches remaining.

 

Japan were arguably the better team in the first two periods, but Australia – who have scored ten and conceded just once in their three matches played so far in Tokyo – had the best chance when a deliberate foul lead to a penalty stroke. However, Kaitlin Nobbs’s flick towards the bottom right corner was blocked by Japan’s impressive goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano, leaving the two teams level at the break. Madison Fitzpatrick scored what proved to be the winning goal three minutes into the third quarter, sending a low penalty corner flick from the left of the circle into the bottom right corner of the Japanese net. Japan rallied hard in the final stages of the match but could not get the break-through that they were so desperately searching for.

“Our focus was that the Japanese were going to come out, without a win yet, and they were just going to come out and throw everything at us”, said Australia’s Edwina Bone. “We were going to be in for a bit of a scrappy fight of a game, which I think it turned out to be. But at the end of the day we still got the result, so I’m pretty proud of how the girls kind of ground it out.”

 

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

 

Argentina 3-2 China
An Agustina Gorzelany double helped Las Leonas moved up to third in the Pool B standings as her team claimed a 3-2 win against China, who finished the day just outside those all-important top four qualification positions. Argentina finished the day in third position with two rounds of matches left to play.

 

Following a goal-less first quarter, Gorzelany netted twice in six second quarter minutes with expertly placed penalty corner drag-flicks. Argentina’s two goal advantage remained in place until eight minutes from full time when Li Hong halved her team’s deficit from a penalty corner, with Julieta Jankunas moving Argentina into a 3-1 lead just two minutes later. Liu Meng’s penalty corner four minutes from time set up a tense finish, but it was not enough to stop Argentina from claiming all three points. 

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

 

Men’s Pool A

Japan 1-4 Spain
Spain gave their hopes of securing a place in the quarter-finals a real boost with a 4-1 win over hosts Japan, a result which moved the Red Sticks – for the time being, at least – into the qualification positions. Japan’s hopes of qualifying look all but over, with the Samurais needing a big win against India in their final pool match to have any chance of progressing.

 

A poor tackle on the ever-lively Kenta Tanaka saw Japan awarded a penalty stroke within two minutes of the start, with Hirotaka Zendana firing home from the spot. Spain levelled almost immediately thanks to Xavi Lleonart’s penalty corner, with the Red Sticks taking full control in the second quarter courtesy of a brilliant Pau Quemada penalty corner drag-flick and a deflected strike from David Alegre. Japan worked incredibly hard to find a breakthrough, but Spain were in no mood to let the three points slip through their grasp, with Lleonart completing the match scoring with a penalty stroke five minutes from the end of the contest.

Despite the disappointing score-line, it was a day to remember for Japan’s Masaki Ohashi and outstanding goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa, with both athletes earning their 100th international caps this evening.

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

 

Australia 4-2 New Zealand
The men’s Oceania derby match was won by pool leaders Australia, defeating New Zealand 4-2 to make it four wins from four matches to guarantee a top two finish in Pool A. The Kookaburras are six points clear of second placed India, who have a game in hand over the Australians. Despite defeat, New Zealand remain very much in the hunt for a quarter-final berth.

 

Australia, who have been in irresistible form here in Tokyo, took the lead in the ninth minute courtesy of a classy field goal from the excellent Tim Brand. It was an advantage that they held for just four minutes, with Kane Russell tying the scores with a penalty corner. The match remained locked at 1-1 throughout the second and third quarters, but three Australian goals in seven fourth quarter minutes changed everything, with Brand, Blake Govers and Wickham sealing the win before New Zealand’s Russell completed the scoring with his second of the match. The match was certainly special for Australia’s Jeremy Hayward and New Zealand goalkeeper Leon Hayward, with the brothers facing each other on the world’s greatest sporting stage at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

 

Commenting on the situation, Leon Hayward said: “It’s ridiculous isn’t it? It’s a good feeling. It’s a strange feeling and I guess everyone’s really proud of what’s happened but unfortunately I didn’t win today so I’m not the happiest guy.”

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

Day 5 (Morning): The Netherlands and Germany continued their excellent form in the women’s Pool A, with both claiming important victories to maintain their 100% winning runs. Defending champions Great Britain were also victorious, while Spain’s women got their Pool B campaign off the ground with their first three points, defeating the previously unbeaten New Zealand.

More information about the matches can be found below.


Women’s Pool A


Netherlands 5-0 South Africa
Reigning World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League champions the Netherlands continued their impressive start to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a third successive win, this time against South Africa, kept them in the Pool A driving seat.

 

The Oranje were in control throughout the contest, eventually breaking through the South African resistance 16 seconds into the second quarter when Frederique Matla fired home. Matla scored a second five minutes into the third quarter with a low penalty corner effort before Marloes Keetels made it 3-0 with a tap-in. The final two Dutch goals arrived in the 52nd and 55th minutes, with Felice Albers and Maria Verschoor completing a comfortable victory for the world number one ranked team on the occasion of Lauren Stam’s 100th international match. 

“We’re doing what we have to do”, said Netherlands head coach Alyson Annan. “We’re playing well and building our game up as we would like. We are making sometimes too many mistakes but I think we are doing well so far.”

Commenting on the fine goalkeeping performance of Phumelela Mbande, who made 18 saves on her 50th appearance, South Africa’s Edith Molikoe said: “Very proud of our goalkeeper. Obviously it’s her 50th so not surprised she performed like that. She also showed us why she earned those 50 caps today. I’m really, really proud of her and the girls with the way they defended. Never easy defending the world’s greatest, but we defended and did our job.”

 

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.


Great Britain 4-1 India
Reigning Olympic champions Great Britain made it six points from a possible nine thanks to a second successive win, seeing off India. The result all but guaranteed GB’s progression to the quarter-finals, being six points clear of both India and South Africa with a vastly superior goal-difference. 

Two open play strikes from Hannah Martin set the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists on their way to victory, although Sharmila Devi’s penalty corner tip-in reduced the deficit mid-way through the second quarter. However, goals in the third and fourth quarters ensured that all three points went the way of GB, with Lili Owsley netting from close range before Grace Balsdon’s penalty stroke wrapped things up three minutes from full time.

“We put in a team performance we wanted”, said GB’s Martin. “We stuck to the game plan and managed to grind out the three points. Momentum’s key. This back-to-back win (after defeating South Africa on Monday) is brilliant for us. As a squad, we are hoping to take this momentum forward into the Dutch (Netherlands) game tomorrow.”

Discussing his team’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, India head coach Sjoerd Marijne said: “We still have chances. There are still six points to get and that can be enough for the quarters. That’s what we’re all about, that’s our goal and that’s what I said to the girls.”

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

Germany 4-2 Ireland
Lisa Altenburg scored twice to help Germany’s women move level on points with the Netherlands at the top of Pool A thanks to a third successive victory, getting the better of Ireland, who currently sit fourth in the pool standings.

Altenburg put Die Danas ahead ten minutes into the contest from open play, with Cecile Pieper doubling the lead in the 20th minute. Altenburg scored her second and Germany’s third five minutes after half time from the penalty spot before the Green Army hit back through Lena Tice towards the end of the third quarter. The prospect of an Irish fightback increased when Hannah McLoughlin’s penalty corner found the target with nine minutes remaining, but Franzisca Hauke’s open play effort ensured that Germany’s 100% winning return remained intact.

“It was really, really tough”, said Germany goal-scorer Hauke. “Three games (for the tournament so far) in hot conditions, but we trained for that for three years and now we are strong on the field and really happy that we won three games.”

Ireland’s Anna O’Flanagan said: “We really took the game to the Germans today and at times they looked shaky, and we had them rattled. We know that we can perform on our day against any team in this competition and we’re just building now through the group stages and getting another win under our belts means we’re into the quarter-finals.”

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

Women’s Pool B

New Zealand 1-2 Spain

New Zealand’s Black Sticks dropped their first points of the competition, falling to defeat against the Red Sticks of Spain, who have re-ignited their own hopes of a quarter-final berth with today’s victory. New Zealand are currently second in Pool B, level on points with Australia but having played a game more. Spain are currently fourth in the table with three points, Argentina (3), China (3) and Japan (0) playing their games in hand in the evening session.

Spain were excellent in the first two quarters, deservedly opening up a two goal lead through a field goal from Belen Iglesias – who punished some sloppy New Zealand defending with a close range finish – and Lola Riera’s deflected penalty corner drag-flick. The Black Sticks made a great start to the second half and pulled a goal back early when Kelsey Smith’s cross-shot flew into the goal via a Spanish stick. However, Spain produced a fine defensive display in the latter stages to claim a crucial three points, giving them great confidence ahead of their two remaining pool matches. The victory was even more special for Berta Bonastre, who made her 200th international appearance for the Red Sticks.

“It’s so important for us this win because we think that last (two previous) matches we played good but the goals didn’t come”, said Spain’s Maria Lopez. “Now we have more confidence than before and it’s a step for the rest of the games.”

New Zealand’s Julia King said: “We had a bit of a shaky start but then we did grow into the match. We just needed to keep a bit more composure at the starts and then grow into the match.”

Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Hockey competitions

28 July 2021 – Day 5

Results

Women’s Pool A
Netherlands 5-0 South Africa
Great Britain 4-1 India
Germany 4-2 Ireland

Women’s Pool B
New Zealand 1-2 Spain

Japan 0-1 Australia
Argentina 3-2 China

Men’s Pool A
Japan 1-4 Spain
Australia 4-2 New Zealand

 

Pool standings overviews

Men: click here.
Women: click here.

 

On Thursday (29 July), the morning session will be dominated by action in Men’s Pool B, with South Africa playing Germany, Belgium facing Canada and the Netherlands taking on Great Britain. South Africa and Canada both need wins if they are to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. There is also action in Men’s Pool A, with India facing reigning Olympic champions Argentina.

The evening session will see attention switch to the women’s competition, with three Pool B matches – Spain vs China, Japan vs Argentina and New Zealand vs Australia – in addition to a huge Pool A meeting between Olympic champions Great Britain and World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League title holders the Netherlands in a re-match of the Rio 2016 gold medal game.

The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 take place from Saturday 24 July to Friday 6 August 2021. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more information about the hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, visit https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/hockey/olympic-schedule-and-results.htm.

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