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Day 7 Update
posted on 10/03/2010
The middle weekend is here started off with the crucial pool B match between Spain and Australia - the winner knowing that it would virtually assure them of a place in the semi finals. After a competitive and evenly matched first half in which chances were few and far between, Australia had a squeezed out a one goal lead from a well executed low penalty corner. The second half was full of hard running play at a high intensity as Spain pushed for an equaliser. They came close but their penalty corners failed to deliver due to some resolute Australian defending at the set piece. Midway through the second half the aussie " press " at a Spannish 16 forced a turnover which led to a well worked second goal securing the most vital of three points for the men from downunder.
The second match of the day was a victory for the underdog against one of the giants of the hockey where South Africa created the greatest shock of the tournament so far when the beat Pakistan 4-3 to record their first win in a World Cup game since their last game in the Kuala Lumpur World cup in 2002.
Pakistans fortunes seemed to turn on a key moment when they were leading 1-0 when they thought that they had " scored " from a penalty corner. However the ball had not gone out of the circle before the ball was flicked into the net and was rightly disallowed following a video referral.
Although winning 1-0 at the break the Pakistanis were stunned by four second half goals in quick succession - including one fantastic strike by Grays player Marvin Harper taking his tally to three for the tournament . Now leading by a three goal margin and down to 10 men, Pakistan still had energy left and staged a late comeback including a third goal in overtime at the end of the game.
England went into their game with hosts India knowing that a point would be good enough to take them into the semi finals for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in London. However the Indians still had a lot to play for if they were to make a top six finish they would need to qualify for the Champions trophy to be held in Muchengladbach in August. The match was held in front of a full house crowd of expectant Indian supporters.
In a pulsating and evenly balanced first half the two teams went after the ascendancy at great speed in the early stages. A composed England then silenced the enthusiastic Indian crowd when they opened the scoring midway through the first half. A break down the left was crossed and deflected towards the far post for a simple tap in. The Indians responded in search of the equaliser but did not make use of their penalty corner opportunities, wasting a couple of them before the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Ashley Jackson using his new AJ 7 rocketed a penalty corner into the roof of the net from England's first penalty corner of the match to score his fourth goal of the tournament.
England soon went 3-0 ahead after a persistent run into the Indian circle ended up going into the net off an Indian players body.
India then staged a comeback midway through the second half. Roared on by the crowd they scored twice in quick succession to reduce the deficit to one with some exhilarating play. The spirited Indian fight back was on an England had to survive incessant pressure to hang on to a crucial win. India's cause not being helped by the loss of two players in the sin bin towards the end of the game. England's deep defence survived wave after wave of attacks to hang onto their slim lead.
At the days conclusion it all means England qualify for the semi finals with the likelihood that they will be joined by Australia in second place. Spain and either Pakistan India or South Africa all have the chance to make the 5th / 6th place match which will give a place in the Champions Trophy later this year.
