Argentina’s dramatic 4-0 win over Germany in the early evening game in Beijing today had us all running for our pocket calculators to discover what the possible outcomes might be from a win, draw, or defeat, for Great Britain in their match against Japan. It was soon clear that anything short of an outright win for GB would mean oblivion. The same applied to Japan, and so it was a rather edgy and disjointed match, where both sides knew the potential outcome of a possible slip-up.After some initial action in the first ten minutes, the match settled down to a sparring match, with each side testing the other. Things started to hot up as the break approached. Chima had a goal scoring opportunity in the GB circle but her attempt at a reverse stick hit ended in an air shot. At the other end Mel Clewlow had a penalty corner strike stopped on the line. With three minutes of play left, Anne Panter managed to slip her marker and parried a cross into Japan’s net from a pass from Chloe Rogers. This was Panter’s first Great Britain goal, and was something in the way of compensation for her disallowed goal against New Zealand on Thursday. The first half closed with plenty of action, with Beth Storry stopping a penalty corner strike finding her net at one end, whilst Japanese ‘keeper Ikuko Okamura stopped a shot from Alex Danson at the other.
The Japanese started to exert more pressure in the second half. Three minutes into the half, the ball found the GB net but was adjudged by the umpire to have come off a Japanese foot. The pressure started to tell as Chloe Rogers was sin-binned for hooking away an opponent’s stick. With twelve minutes of play left, Japan were awarded a penalty corner. The strike, when it came, seemed to be covered by a grounded Beth Storry but Rachel Walker’s stick gave it the lightest touch and the ball popped over Storry’s prone body and into the back of the net. 1-1.
Seeing the chances of a medal slipping away, Great Britain started to fight their way back into the game. Rachel Walker had a shot at goal saved and Sarah Thomas was denied at close range. The pressure of the game became briefly two much for Charlotte Craddock who found herself occupying the chair in the sin bin that had been vacated minutes before by Rogers. But with approximately 90 seconds showing on the clock, Great Britain were awarded a penalty corner. This was clearly going to be the last shout of the match. In the circumstances the perceived wisdom might have been to have struck the ball first time but GB played around with the ball in a seemingly bizarre and complex routine and then, suddenly, Crista Cullen struck and the ball was in the back of the net. The final hooter sounded whilst the GB girls were celebrating. Final score 2-1.
In the other match in Pool B, the USA beat New Zealand 4-1.
Today’s results, with one more match to play, puts Great Britain’s women in third place behind Argentina and Germany. Regrettably, the top three teams in the pool are playing weaker sides in their next matches, which will almost certainly mean that they will keep their present positions after Monday. Great Britain’s position is not helped by a goal difference of -2.
In Pool A Australia slip to third after their 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands this morning. China are in third position after a 6-1 win over Korea, whilst South Africa remain on the bottom after being beaten 1-0 by Spain.
Great Britain’s men are next in action tomorrow morning (01:00 GMT) when they play Canada.
Full results and tables are available at our main site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.
