Everyone was hoping for an upset in the quarter finals of
the World League Semi-Finals in Rotterdam, but neither yesterday’s women’s
matches, or today’s men’s matches, have sprung any surprises.
Belgium, who have been a revelation at this tournament,
topped Pool A, and so got to play Ireland who finished bottom of Pool B. Ten
minutes into the match, Belgium were leading 2-0, thanks to goals from Loick
Luypaert and Thomas Briels, but Chris Cargo managed to pull one back for
Ireland just before the break. Ireland
then gifted an own goal to the Belgians four minutes into the second half,
although John Jackson managed to restore the margin a few minutes later.
With the score at 3-2 to Belgium, the Irish found themselves
under the cosh, with two more Belgian goals, the first from Sebastian Dockier
and the second from Tom Boon. But the
Irish were quick to respond, with Paul Cleghorne finding the net. But it was their opponents had the last say,
with Dockier scoring his second, this time from a penalty corner. Final score,
6-3 to Belgium.
Belgium will play New Zealand in Friday’s semi-final. The
Kiwis match against Spain saw only one goal, scored in the 14th
minute by Hugo Inglis, but that was enough to give New Zealand victory and a
place in the semi-finals.
Australia, who found themselves in the unfamiliar territory
of finishing second in Pool A behind Belgium, got off to a cracking start
against India with a penalty corner goal from Glenn Simpson within the first two minutes. Later in the
first half there was a two minute period which saw no less than four goals
scored, the first from Australia’s Matt Gohdes, the next from India’s
Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, which was followed by an Indian own goal and a
goal from Australia’s Russell Ford. Almost as if they had exhausted their goal
scoring powers, the match calmed down, with a single Australian second half
goal from Matthew Swann bringing the score to 5-1 to Australia.
Australia will play The Netherlands in the second semi-final
on Friday. The Dutch earned their place with a decisive win against
France. Although a Dutch win was not
unexpected, the French scoring rate came as a bit of a surprise. The French drew level after The Netherlands
had gone two ahead by the seventh minute, the scorers being Jeroen Hertzberger
and Constantijn Jonker. Two goals in quick succession from France’s Matthieu
Durchon and Viktor Lockwood, brought the scores to 2-2.
The Dutch edged ahead with a late first half goal from
Hertzberger, to which Valentin Verga added a further goal less than a minute
into the second half. A third from Hertzberger, one from Rogier Hoffmann, and
goals from Robbert Kemperman and Quirijn Caspers brought the Dutch total to
eight. The French had not been idle in the second half, with a goal from Martin
Genestet and a Dutch own goal. Final score 8-4.
Tomorrow sees the Women’s semi finals played in Rotterdam.
In Rotterdam, the announcement and presentation was made
today of the FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award for 2012. The award has gone to Dutch corner striker
Maartje Paumen. Among those shortlisted
were our own Crista Cullen. Others shortlisted for the award were Luciana Aymar
(Argentina), Kim Lammers (The Netherlands) and Kayla Sharland (New Zealand). The FIH Young Player of 2012 went to Anna
Flannagan of Australia.
