Argentina looked worthy winners as they edged out Australia 2-1 in the first game of day two. Goals from Lucas Martin Vila (PC) and Tomas Argento Innocente in the first 15 minutes put them on their way. Australia pulled one back through Fergus Kavanagh but despite their forays into the Argentine half they could not get the equaliser. And luck was certainly on the side of the Argentines when an Australian shot hit the post and rolled behind the GK along the line before being cleared by the defence.
The match between Spain and South Korea saw the Spanish in goal scoring form, with goals from Xavier Ribas (PC) and two from Pol Amat. Spain were 3-0 up in the first half and 7-2 at the final whistle and it seemed every time that Spain went forward they scored. With two more goals from Pol Amat to give him a total of four - and the leading scorer at the end of day two - Ramon Alegre (PC) and Santi Freixa made it seven. The Koreans had a few chances to score from open play - both S Korean goals from Byung Hoon Kim and Jong Hyun Jang coming from penalty corners.
In the match between the Netherlands and Germany, Keller put Germany in the lead with two goals, one in the third minutes and the second in the twenty-fifth. It was not until the last minute of the first half that Holland pulled one back with a well taken penalty corner from Roderick Weusthof. With Taeke Taekema injured, Weusthof made the most of his return to the team after being left out for the last Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur. Robert Reckers brought Holland level after five minutes of second half play, and then another penalty corner from Roderick Weusthof gave them the lead. Goals from Ronald Brower, and the best goal of the game from local Rotterdam player Jeroen Hertzberger, took the score to 5-2. Germany down and out? Not a bit of it. Germany hit the post twice as they attempted to reduce the deficit. They put the ball in the net only to be awarded a long corner. In the end, they were awarded a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the game, which Jan Marco Montag converted to give the final score 5-3.
This was a match which started with some intriguing timekeeping. Rotterdam had recently hosted the EuroHockey League final where the rules require four 17.5 minute quarters to be played. After 17.5 minutes of the first half, the hooter went and the players started to troop off. The problem was not repeated in the second half.
