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News for 04 August 2019

All the news for Sunday 4 August 2019


Pan Am Games 2019 (Men) - Day 7
Lima (PER)

Results

3 Aug 2019     CHI v TTO (Pool A)         2 - 0
3 Aug 2019     MEX v USA (Pool B)     1 - 5
3 Aug 2019     ARG v CUB (Pool A)     9 - 0
3 Aug 2019     CAN v PER (Pool B)     14 - 1

Pool Standings

Pool A

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Argentina 3 3 0 0 20 1 19 9
2 Chile 3 2 0 1 7 5 2 6
3 Cuba 3 1 0 2 3 15 -12 3
4 Trinidad & Tobago 3 0 0 3 2 11 -9 0

Pool B

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Canada 3 3 0 0 23 2 21 9
2 United States 3 2 0 1 21 5 16 6
3 Mexico 3 1 0 2 10 12 -2 3
4 Peru 3 0 0 3 3 38 -35 0

FIH Match Centre



Quarter-final stage set after Day 6

Ali Baggott


CHI v TTO Photo: Yan Huckendubler

Day 6 of the Pan American Games is the final day of men's round-robin play to finalize placings heading in to the quarter-finals. Goals from Martin Rodriguez and Juan Amoroso lifted Chile 2-0 over winless Trinidad and Tobago in the first game. Two goals from Alberto Montilla gave the USA a 5-1 win over Mexico and preserves them a spot in the Top 2 of Pool B. Argentina blanked Cuba 9-0 scoring seven goals in the second half.

MEN POOL A: Chile vs. Trinidad & Tobago (2-0)

Chile secured second spot in Pool A after a 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Day 6 of the Pan American Games. Martin Rodriguez and Juan Amoroso each got on the board for Chile.

Read more...

MEN POOL B: Mexico vs. USA (1-5)

A resilient American side wore down Mexico and scored four goals in the second half to win 5-1. Twenty-one-year old Alberto Montilla scored two goals for the USA, while Mexico’s lone goal came from David Terminel Calleja.

Read more...

MEN POOL A: Argentina vs. Cuba (9-0)

Cuba held Argentina to a two-goal differential for 40 minutes of play before eventually wearing and conceding a 9-0 loss to the Leones. Seven goals in the second half helped Argentina go undefeated in pool- play and secure the top of Pool A.

Read more...

MEN POOL B: Canada vs. Peru (14-1)

Eight different scorers got on the board in Canada’s 14-1 victory over hosts Peru. Oliver Scholfield scored a hat trick as Canada affirms their spot at the top of Pool B heading in to the quarter-finals. Peru’s Rodrigo Diaz Espinosa scored for Peru.

Read more...

Quarter-final action will take place on August 5 with the first-placed teams crossing over with teh fourth-placed teams in the opposite pool. The second and third-placed teams will cross over with each other. Games will take place at 13:30 (Argentina vs. Peru), 15:45 (Chile vs. Mexico), 18:00 (Cuba vs. USA) and 20:15 (Trinidad & Tobago vs. Canada).. All times are listed local to Lima (-5 GTM). 

Semifinal action will take place on August 7 and finals on August 10.

Follow the Pan American Hockey Federation on InstagramTwitter and Facebook at @panamhockey and online at panamhockey.org for the latest information.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release



Pan American Games 2019 – Canada defeats Peru to close out group stage

Canada tops pool B with a 14-1 victory over host Peru

By Ali Lee


Photo: Yan Huckendubler

Eight different scorers got on the board in Canada’s 14-1 victory over hosts Peru. Oliver Scholfield scored a hat trick as Canada affirms their spot at the top of Pool B heading in to the quarter-finals. Peru’s Rodrigo Diaz Espinosa scored for Peru.

Canada wasted no time showcasing the depth of their scoring abilities after notching seven goals in the opening half. Iain Smythe opened the scoring in the third minute after he smashed a back-hand shot in to the top of the net. Gordie Johnston continued his penalty corner success burying a flick in the fourth minute. Seconds later, John Smythe set up Jamie Wallace for a 3-0 Canada lead.

Peru broke out of their back field on a long run from Rodrigo Diaz Espinosa who found a foot just inside the Canadian circle. The home crowd roared as Diaz Espinosa’s penalty corner flick ricocheted off the Canadian defence and bounced past Canadian keeper David Carter to make it just 3-1 for Canada. Canada had numerous free play chances from there but Peru keeper Felix Mafferetti did well to disrupt the plays.

In the 14th minute Canadian skipper Scott Tupper delivered on another Canadian penalty corner to give Canada a 4-1 lead heading in to the second quarter.

Off a long corner pass Sukhi Panesar floated the ball through a crowd of Peru defenders at the top of the circle and unleashed a back-hand to seal a fifth goal for Canada. Keegan Pereira and Scholfield each added a goal before half time to make it 7-1 for Canada.

Balraj Panesar set up Canada’s eighth goal on a sideline free hit. The 50-yard smash was deflected into the net with ease by Mark Pearson. Moments later Johnston passed to Wallace who did a nifty behind-the-back deflection for a 9-1 Canada lead. With all kinds of space now Tupper was able to feed Pearson on the left of the circle and his back-hand cross met the stick of Scholfield for goal number ten. Pearson scored again in the 42nd minute when he stole the ball of Peru’s Christopher Knight and buried it from a near-impossible baseline angle.

Brenden Bissett’s pressure caused another Peru turnover and the lifted pass to Scholfield was expertly smashed in out of the air and on the reverse for a 12-1 Canada advantage. With Johnston and Tupper off, Pereira scored on a low penalty corner flick in the 55th minute. Tupper made it 14-1 with less than four minutes to go after he put in a rebound off a shot from Froese.

Canada secured their spot at the top of Pool B and will now face Trindad and Tobago in their quarter-final match up, while Peru will play Argentina.


Photo: Yan Huckendubler

Field Hockey Canada media release



Canadian men's field hockey team halfway through their Olympic-sized task

Team can earn direct qualification to Tokyo 2020 with gold-medal win in Peru

Justin Piercy


Canada's mens field hockey team defeated Peru 14-1 during a preliminary match at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru on Saturday. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

LIMA, Peru —Three wins down, three to go.

That's the message after the Canadian men's field hockey team wrapped up their final preliminary match in the most crucial tournament of their Olympic cycle with a 14-1 win against the host Peruvians on Saturday.

The win seals Canada's place at the top of their group for the knockout round, which is another step toward a gold medal, and a direct spot in the Tokyo Olympics.

As the score line suggests, the game was in Canada's hands from the get-go. But it was also a testy affair, especially after Canada's Gordie Johnson went down after taking a redirected shot to the face.

Johnson left the game and received medical attention, but his status for the team's next game, a quarter-final match against Trinidad and Tobago, is unknown.

Not too long after Johnson's exit, Canadian captain Scott Tupper was shown a green card by the referee after Tupper had a disagreement with a Peruvian player.


Canada's Gordon Johnston is helped off the field after sustaining an injury during his team's match against Peru at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru on Saturday. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

"We were reasonably confident we were going to secure the result and I think that was somewhat clear early on in the game," Tupper says. "Maybe our emotions got a little more heated as we lost Gordie in the game and that was disappointing because he's a very important player for us.

"Perhaps little things became a little bit bigger, but such is sport I guess."

Canada started their Pan Am tournament by beating Mexico 5-1 on Tuesday, and followed that up with a 4-0 victory over Team USA on Thursday. Tupper says wrapping up their group is important because it's another step on the team's quickest path to the Tokyo Olympics.

"The Pan American Games, for Canadian field hockey, has always been looked at as the number one path and is kind of the path of least resistance to get to the Olympics," Tupper says. "We think we certainly have the opportunity to play in the final and the capability of winning the tournament if we play well.

"We'd like to stand on top of the podium and punch that ticket."


Sukhi Panesar (middle) is congratulated by teammates after scoring for Canada against Peru. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

Canadian head coach Paul Bundy says the importance of the Pan Am Games for his team can never be understated.

"It's critical," he says. "This is the most important tournament of our quad, without this it doesn't give you that direct berth at the Olympic Games.

"We've been building up to this for the last three years."

Long-time rivals expect to clash in Lima

The Canadians entered the Pan Am competition ranked No. 10 in the world, and as the reigning silver medallists, having lost to Argentina in Toronto in at the 2015 Games.

The two countries are no stranger to one another, especially when it comes to going for Pan Am gold — each one of the five finals in men's field hockey history at these Games have pitted Canada vs. Argentina, with the latter holding a 3-2 edge in gold medal wins.


Canada's Mark Pearson (right) battles Peru's Fabrizio Corno for possession of the ball. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

While the Canadians say they will take it one game at a time in Lima, there is no doubt why they are here and that once again the road to the Summer Games runs right through Team Argentina.

"You're playing for a medal and that chance to stand on the podium," Tupper says. "In Canadian field hockey you kind of grow up learning about and wanting to beat Argentina in a final of a Pan American Games.

"It doesn't necessarily mean the other teams aren't strong...but for whatever reason, Canada and Argentina have always made their way there [for] generally a close, hard-fought game between teams that don't necessarily like each other too much. There's a good rivalry there."

Bundy is anticipating seeing his team's rivals.

"The Pan Am Games have had a Canada-Argentina final for as long as it's gone back," Bundy says. "It's 60 minutes of hockey and even though Argentina are ranked above us, [but] it's a one-off game and anything can happen."

Experience will pay dividends

Bundy says to get back to the final for a sixth time, his team team will need to lean on their veterans, like their captain.

"There's a lot of our alumni that have carved a path through qualifying for Pan Am," he says. "Scott and a number of other guys are really experienced [and have been] to multiple Pan Ams, so that's going to be drawn upon, particularly in that final game."


Scott Tupper was Canada's flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru on July 26. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

Tupper has played in the last three Pan Ams, and as the flag-bearer, led the entire Canadian contingent into the opening ceremony on July 26. He says the event has not lost its importance, despite this being his fourth appearance.

"My first Pan American Games in 2007 was my first multi-sport events so I was a little bit wide-eyed, he says. "Now 12 years down the road, I think I'm just as excited. I really love the Pan American Games, it's a tournament we always arrive knowing that we have the capability to win if we play well."

Knockout round looms

Canada's next match comes on Monday in the quarter-finals against Trinidad and Tobago.

"It's a little bit of a reset now," Tupper says. "We [are into] the crossovers, so it's kind of job done now, we wanted to go 3-0 in the pool and that's how we ended up going.


Canada's Scott Tupper takes a shot during Canada's 14-1 win over Peru. (Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports)

"We set ourselves up for the path we wanted to have — we look forward to [Trinidad and Tobago] in the next game…they're an interesting team, they've got some pretty experienced players. We'll have to be really sharp and well prepared and hopefully put in a good performance and move on."

If all goes well, a semifinal on Thursday and then possibly the gold-medal match will follow.

And they're pretty sure who will be waiting there.

"Our ticket to the Olympics is going to go through Argentina," Tupper says. "You kind of always have that in your head."

CBC



USMNT Pushes on to Pan American Games Quarterfinals with Win Over Mexico


Image Taken by Mark Palczewski

LIMA, Peru - Crossover matchups were on the line as the No. 24 U.S. Men's National Team took on No. 32 Mexico in their final Pool B battle of the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The sun from the previous day had set back behind the clouds, but the crowd at the Villa Maria Triunfo complex still brought the energy. With the two teams evenly matched, USA struggled to score until the final minutes of the first half. Mexico found an equalizer in the third quarter, but the team effort by USA put them on top as they notched four goals in the second half to secure the 5-1 win.

The match began slow as both teams were unable to break through each other’s defensive lines to create a scoring opportunity. Frustrated by the lack of success found, the game turned aggressive as the two teams sought to turn their fortune. A close call for USA came when Mexico looked to attack but Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany) intercepted a pass and sent it down the other way. From there, Deegan Huisman (Almere, The Netherlands) threaded a perfect ball to Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.) who was unable to keep control. Shortly after, Juan Sosa was issued a five-minute yellow card following an altercation on the field. Even during the man-up situation, USA could not connect to put one on the scoreboard as the quarter ended scoreless.

A few minutes into the second quarter, USA earned their first penalty corner. The drag flick by Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) was blocked by a Mexico defender, and play transitioned the other way. USA began to press higher on Mexico to try and force a turnover and the strategy paid off as Huisman intercepted the ball. He and passed it off to Kei Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany) who had room for a shot but was unable to get it off as a Mexico defender took it away. USA finally broke the seal with five minutes remaining in the half when Alberto Montilla (Allen, Texas) buried a backhand past Mexico goalkeeper Jose Hernandez. USA went into halftime leading 1-0.

Only behind by one goal, Mexico came out with a vengeance in the third quarter, immediately breaking into USA's circle for their first entry of the match. USA's defense continued to be tested again as Mexico earned their first penalty corner halfway through the quarter. After the ball was fumbled at the top, Mexico sent it back to the inserter where post-player Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.) stepped and broke up the threat. Mexico did not relent and David Terminel evened the score when he got a long ball from the backfield and shot it into the left corner. The goal against lit a fire for USA and within the same minute, USA answered on a rebound off Hernandez that was shot by Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Calif.) to put the red, white and blue up again. Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) extended the lead the three minutes later by sending a hard shot into the bottom left of the goal. The frame ended with USA on top, 3-1.

USA took control in the final quarter as they fought for the ball all over the field. They added two more goals to their lead to extend the scoring margin by four. The first came in the 54th minute off a penalty corner drag by A. Kaeppeler that went into the net past Hernandez. A minute later, at close range DeAngelis passed it off to Montilla who reverse tapped it to make it 5-1. Mexico did not let up and started to exploit holes in USA's defense to try and find any opportunity to answer. The red, white and blue held strong the remainder of the quarter to secure the win.

With a projected second spot finish in Pool B, the U.S. Men's National Team will play the third place finisher in Pool A on Monday, August 5. Tomorrow, the U.S. Women's National Team starts quarterfinal play when they take on No. 63 Cuba at 6:15 p.m. ET.

USFHA media release



Pan Am Games 2019 (Women) - Day 7
Lima (PER)

Fixtures (GMT -5)

4 Aug 2019 09:30     ARG v PER (QF1)
4 Aug 2019 11:45     CAN v MEX (QF3
4 Aug 2019 15:00     URU v CHI (QF2)
4 Aug 2019 17:15     CUB v USA (QF4)

FIH Match Centre



Live From Lima: Quarterfinal Scouting Report - USWNT vs. Cuba



As a lead up to today’s Pan American Games (PAG) match-up, here are a few details you’ll want to know before the starting whistle.

Game Day: Sunday, August 4, 2019

Time: 6:15 p.m. ET

Opponent: Cuba

FIH World Ranking: 63

2015 Pan American Games Finish: 8

Current Pan American Games Record: 0-0-3

Last Time USA Played Opponent: In the 2015 Pan American Games held in Toronto, Canada, the USWNT dominated No. 63 Cuba in their final pool play game. USA scored 12 goals against their opponent to seal their placement in the quarterfinals. While the USWNT rostered a different team in 2015, nine different players tallied their name on the goal sheet. Cuba went on to finish last in the standings.

What You Need to Know: With most of their players earning their first international caps in this tournament, Cuba has suffered from inexperience in its first three games. They were denied most chances to score besides two goals, one against No. 3 Argentina and another against No. 25 Uruguay. However, they have been scored on 31 times over the course of three pool games. The USWNT went undefeated in pool play with strong performances against Peru and Mexico. They proved their determination as they came back from a two-goal deficit against Chile, scoring four goals in the fourth quarter. The team that comes out on top in the quarterfinals will secure a spot in the semifinals.

Cuba Roster:
#            Name     Caps
1           Yusnaidy Betancourt (GK)      17
2           Yurismailis Garcia (GK)      5
4           Sunaylis Nikle (C)      3
6           Roseli Harrys      3
8           Arlettis Tirse      3
9           Brizaida Ramos      3
11           Leticia Fernandez      3
12           Yunia Milanes      3
13           Yuraima Vera      3
14           Yadira Miclin      2
15           Jennifer Martinez      3
16           Jessica Ortiz      5
18           Yeskenia Gutierre      3
21           Yurima Soria      3
25           Yurisleydis Reyes      3
26           Lismary Gonzalez      3
                   
            Head Coach: Nelson Ginorio Vega      
            Manager: Amado Amoros      

USFHA media release



ESPN to Broadcast Final Three Days of Pan American Games Hockey Competition



LIMA, Peru – ESPN’s broadcast schedule now features the final three days of Pan American Games competition! With this announcement, the men’s quarterfinals on Thursday, August 8, women’s finals on Friday, August 9 and men’s finals on Saturday, August 10 will be available for stream by going to WatchESPN.com.

The 2019 Pan American Games hockey competition got underway on July 29. The No. 13 U.S. Women’s National Team went undefeated in pool play and claimed the top spot after victories over No. 30 Mexico (5-0), No. 15 Chile (4-2) and No. 38 Peru (8-0). The women are set to take on No. 63 Cuba in the final quarterfinal match of the day on Sunday, August 4.

The No. 24 U.S. Men’s National Team finished second in their pool after wins over No. 55 Peru (16-0) and No. 32 Mexico (5-1) and a loss to No. 10 Canada (0-4).

Disclaimer: ESPN broadcast, times and channels are subject to change. Fans should check ESPN for the latest listings.

USFHA media release



EuroHockey Championship II (Men) 2019 - Finals
Cambrai, France

Results

3 Aug 2019     ITA v BLR (Pool C)             3 - 2
3 Aug 2019     CZE v UKR (Pool C)         1 - 6
3 Aug 2019     POL v AUT (3rd/4th Place)     1 - 4
3 Aug 2019     RUS v FRA (Final)             0 - 4

Final Placings

1. France   
2. Russia
3. Austria   
4. Poland
5. Italy
6. Ukraine
7. Czech Republic
8. Belarus

FIH Match Centre



EuroHockey Championship III (Men) 2019 - Finals
Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Results

3 Aug 2019     TUR v MLT (Pool C)         1 - 1
3 Aug 2019     SVK v LTU (Pool C)             2 - 1
3 Aug 2019     POR v GIB (3rd/4th Place)    2 - 7
3 Aug 2019     SUI v CRO (Final)             4 - 5

Final Placings

1. Croatia
2. Switzerland
3. Gibraltar
4. Portugal
5. Turkey
6. Slovakia
7. Lithuania
8. Malta

FIH Match Centre



Gibraltar hockey claims third place with 7-2 victory

By Stephen Ignacio

Gibraltar’s final day of the Eurohockey brought probably the biggest roar from the home crowd as they claimed 3rd place in style.

A convincing 7-2 victory left no doubt about who had dominated the match. Portugal had already sunk heads by halftime as they saw Gibraltar run away with the lead. A 4-0 score line making it all to obvious were the match was heading.

It had been a nervy start for Gibraltar but Shane Ramagge calmed nerves as he sunk in the first.

Gibraltar gaining confidence from taking the lead soon saw themselves add a second through López in the second quarter. Carl Rammage was to secured the third before Lopez struck again to make it four.

It had not been without some great work at the back, especially keeper Borg who produced some incredible saves. Enough to see him get a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

Portugal scores a magnificent driven goal to make it 4-1. This just made Gibraltar week another. Hernández running at Portugal’s defense combine well with Valarino who was causing mayhem on the flank for Portugal’s defense. The 5-1 saw Gibraltar playing and controlling the game. But Portugal were to score again.
Henwood struck the sixth from a short corner.

It was all Gibraltar from then on with a few good saves from Borg but with Gibraltar setting the pace. The seventh goal seemed inevitable as Gibraltar claimed bronze.
The crowd recognizing three of the biggest contributors to Gibraltar’s success as they stood to applaud Ramagge (Carl), Henwood and Borg as they came off in the final minute.

Gibraltar Chronicle



EuroHockey Championship III (Women) 2019 - Finals
Lipovci, Slovenia

Results

3 Aug 2019     SLO v HUN (Pool C)         0 - 3
3 Aug 2019     SUI v CRO (3rd/4th Place)     0 - 0 (2 - 1 SO)
3 Aug 2019     FRA v LTU (Final)             4 - 3

Final Placings

1. France
2. Lithuania
3. Switzerland
4. Croatia
5. Slovakia
6. Hungary
7. Slovenia

FIH Match Centre



EuroHockey Championship II (Women) 2019 - Day 1
Glasgow, Scotland

Fixtures (GMT +1)

4 Aug 2019 10:15     ITA v WAL (Pool A)
4 Aug 2019 12:30     POL v TUR (Pool A)
4 Aug 2019 14:45     SCO v UKR (Pool B)
4 Aug 2019 17:00     CZE v AUT (Pool B)

FIH Match Centre



Scotland hockey captain Kareena Cuthbert keen to press home advantage after Glasgow Games blow

By Graeme Macpherson


Kareena Cuthbert missed the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to injury but she did play in the Gold Coast

AFTER a week of happy recollections marking the fifth anniversary of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, Kareena Cuthbert finally gets to enjoy a miniature version of her own.

Scotland’s hockey captain was a frustrated spectator in 2014, a cruciate knee injury denying her the chance to take part in a home Games. Now opportunity knocks once more. International hockey is back in Glasgow this week with the women’s European Championships II getting underway today and running until Saturday’s final when Cuthbert hopes to lead the Scots back into European hockey’s top tier.

The 32 year-old has long since made her peace with what happened in 2014 – she appeared in the two Commonwealth Games either side in Delhi and Gold Coast – but the chance to feature at a major hockey event on home soil will help fill one of the few remaining gaps in an otherwise bulging CV.

“This is a special one because it’s at home,” she said. “Because I missed out on Glasgow in 2014 I’ve been really looking forward to this one in particular.

“It was really frustrating at the time not being able to play because of injury but that happens in sport. You have your highs and your lows and that was a real disappointment. But it’s a long time in the past and now we have another home tournament to look forward to.

“It’s a little bit easier for friends and family to come along and watch you in action and there’s always a great atmosphere. Expectations are that we will do well so I’m excited to get started.”

The eight-team tournament on Glasgow Green sees Scotland in a group with Austria, Czech Republic and Ukraine for their first Euros outside of elite level since 2011. They won the tournament on that occasion and a top-two finish here would see them elevated back to the top tier for the next championships in 2021.

“It’s challenging trying to stay in the A division,” admitted Cuthbert. “Having done it for three consecutive tournaments to stay in the top six in Europe was a pretty big thing for us against the likes of Germany, Holland and England.

“We want to get back to that level again and, without being complacent, we believe we have a great opportunity at home to do that.

“We watched the men’s team win promotion two years ago and that was amazing. Hopefully it’s our turn now.”

Cuthbert, a physiotherapist, is one of many in the squad with regular commitments to fulfil outside of hockey. With no funding available there has been little opportunity for the squad to train full-time together in the build-up but the Western Wildcats player is confident regardless.

“We didn’t have funding for a full-time programme so we’ve had to rely on training camps and friendlies when we’ve managed to get together,” she said. “The build-up has been limited as a lot of us have other commitments.

“We’ve probably had a couple of girls withdraw this year as it’s taken its toll. It’s years of asking employers to be kind and giving you a lot of time off, especially in the summer.

“But we work closely with the Institute of Sport to try to help with that flexibility and we’re grateful for any sponsors we have – BOHO are the latest on board – as that definitely helps with our preparations.

“There’s a commitment to be made. I hate the word sacrifice as it’s not a sacrifice. It’s a choice whether you want to play or not. And if someone chooses to play, you want them to commit. I wear the captain’s armband but everyone in the group encourages everyone else.”

Cuthbert, a gregarious individual known universally as Kaz, is one of the senior figures in what she calls “a fresh-faced squad”. But if she is planning on making this her tournament swansong, she is keeping that to herself for now.

“Any time you get to pull on the shirt, sing the anthem and play international hockey is still a real honour. You’re playing for your country alongside your friends and there’s nothing better than that.”

- Tickets, starting from £10 for adults and £7 for children, can be bought on the gate. Details from www.scottish-hockey.org.uk

The Herald



2019 4 Nations Invitational Tournament (M)
Barcelona (ESP)

Fixtures (GMT +2)

4 Aug 2019 10:00     ENG v MAS (RR)
4 Aug 2019 12:00     IRL v ESP (RR)

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Malaysia 2 2 0 0 6 4 2 6
2 Spain 2 1 0 1 7 6 1 3
3 Ireland 2 0 1 1 4 5 -1 1
4 England 2 0 1 1 5 7 -2 1

FIH Match Centre



Red-hot Malaysia march on in Spain

By Jugjet Singh


National hockey team in action against Ireland during the Four-Nation Invitational tournament in Terrassa, Spain. -Pic source: Facebook/MalaysianHockeyConfederation

Malaysia maintained their superb form in the Four-Nation Invitational by edging World No 11 Ireland 2-1 for their second straight win in the tournament in Terrassa, Spain, on Friday.

Earlier, World No 12 Malaysia caused a major upset by overcoming ninth-ranked Spain 4-3. The team will play England today.

The matches are being used by national coach Roelant Oltmans to prepare for the final round of the Tokyo Olympic qualifier in October. They will play Spain, Germany, New Zealand or Canada.

On Friday, Ireland took the lead through Shane O'Donoghue in the ninth minute but Fitri Saari equalised for Malaysia seconds later.

Razie Rahim scored the winner from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.

“We didn’t start well in the first quarter. We were down 1-0 before we equalised and that was the game-changer.

“It is satisfying to have two wins. We need to be competitive against England, although the World No 6 did not do too well against Ireland and Spain,” said Oltmans yesterday.

England drew 3-3 against Ireland before going down 4-2 to Spain in earlier matches.

In their last meeting, Malaysia were hammered 7-0 by England at last year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

New Straits Times



Breakthrough as Malaysia close in on four-nation hockey title – in Europe



KUALA LUMPUR: The national hockey team are on the verge of winning the four-nation invitational tournament in Barcelona, Spain. The team, ranked 12th in the world, came back from a goal down to beat world No. 11 Ireland 2-1 on Friday to top the standings.

On Thursday, they fought back from two goals down to beat world No. 9 Spain 4-2 in the opening match.

Malaysia just need a draw against world No. 6 England today to emerge as the winners.

Team manager Stephen van Huizen was happy to see a change in the way the players approach the game.

“We used to take the lead and then allow our opponents to come back from behind to beat us in matches. Now, we are putting pressure on our opponents, ” said Stephen.

On Friday, Ireland took the lead off a penalty corner converted by Shane O’ Donoghue in the ninth minute.

But Malaysia, who are using the playing tour in Europe as part of their preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers in October, made a fast counter attack to equalise in the same minute (ninth minute) through Mohd Fitri Saari from a deflection off a pass by his elder brother Faizal.

It was the fastest equalising goal netted by the Malaysian team against a European side.

Malaysia continued to pile the pressure and their perseverance paid off with a winning goal by Muhd Razie Abdul Rahim (pic) off a penalty corner drag flick in the 33rd minute.

The Star of Malaysia



India confident of qualifying for 2020 Olympics: Lalremsiami

Says camps organised by HI helped the players improve their game

Aware of the mistakes the Indian hockey team committed in the Asian Games final, forward Lalremsiami on Saturday said they are confident of qualifying for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In last year’s Asiad, India finished runner-up after going down 2-1 to Japan and missed out on qualifying for the Olympics.

“We played very well at the Asian Games and we knew that if we had won there then we would have qualified for the Olympics. We worked hard during the tournament, but we made a few mistakes,” Lalremsiami said.

The team, led by skipper Rani Rampal, then went on to extract revenge by beating Japan 3-1 in the final of the FIH Women’s Series Finals in June.

“Thereafter, we decided we will not repeat our mistakes at the FIH Women’s Series Finals and we triumphed against the same Japanese team we lost to in the Asian Games final,” she said.

Indian women, currently ranked 10th in the world, will face tough challenges against the likes of Australia, China (11th) and host Japan (14th) at the Olympic Test event, scheduled to begin in Tokyo on August 17.

“The team is very confident ahead of the Olympic Test Event because we have worked hard during our practice sessions. “Every session in the National camp was planned keeping in mind the Olympic Qualifiers. We believe that we have a good team which can repeat history by qualifying for the Olympics again.”

Lalremsiami feels India can give top ranked team like Australia a run for their money in the Olympic Test Event.

The Hindu



CTM PHL 2019 produces four pulsating Semi-Finals


Image - Marcel Sigg - Run, Ride, Dive

There will be little debate that the 2019 Premier Hockey League has produced some of the most outstanding attacking hockey, which was once again the theme of the semi-finals.

Madikwe Rangers (4) 3-3 (3) Orange River Rafters

For the second year in a row it was heart break for the Orange River Rafters at the Semi-Final stage against the Madikwe Rangers on a penalty shootout. For the Rangers it gives them the opportunity to finally take the final hurdle having twice failed at the final stage.

Nicky Veto won an early penalty corner for the Rangers that was punished by Lisa Deetlefs with a trademark slap. The impressive Donna Small then helped matters level when her superb run was slotted home by Zimkitha Weston. The scored stayed that way for half an hour before one of the finest all-time PHL goals was scored by Kristen Paton. She took on five players as she made her way into the D and then slid the ball past Cheree Greyvenstein superbly.

The Rafters levelled again with a superb deflection by Dirkie Chamberlain on the back of a very well worked short corner. That joy was short lived as Toni Marks won the Rangers a short corner which Ashleigh Datnow deflected a Deetlefs slap home. There was still time for Ongi Mali to play party pooper as she finished off a goal mouth scramble and sent the match to a shootout.

The shootouts went to sudden death but after Paton and Chamberlain had scored Casey-Jean Botha had her shot saved and Deetlefs confirmed a third final for the Rangers, the first team to achieve this.

Wineland Wings 4-3 Namaqualand Daisies

The tempo did not die down in the second game as the Wineland Wings and Namaqualand Daisies played out a superb semi-final with the victor qualifying for their first ever final. The Daisies surprisingly held an early lead when quick play by Bianca Wood secured the ball for Thati Segoale who finished expertly. The crowd at Randburg had to wait until the third quarter for the Wings to answer the call and they did it through their all-time leading goalscorer Tarryn Glasyb firing home a penalty corner.

The Wings then took the lead through tournament top scorer Sylvia van Jaarsveledt who finished a super opportunistic goal. It all kicked off in the fourth quarter though as Ashleigh Thomas pounced to level the score at 2-2 before Bianca Wood showed her ability under pressure to turn the game on its head and get the Daisies fans dreaming.

Those dreams will become Jade Mayne nightmares for the Daisies because the Wings superstar showed extreme poise and control at the top of the D and fired one in low and hard to level the game before van Jaarsveldt popped up with another trademark goal to settle it once and for all for the Wings.

Drakensberg Dragons 3-1 Maropeng Cavemen

In a repeat of the 2017 final and the 2018 semi-final the most played fixture in PHL history saw the Dragons emerge victorious over the Cavemen to become the first team in PHL history to secure three consecutive final appearances.

They took the lead when big game goal scorer Bili Ntuli caught Rassie Pieterse off guard and slid the ball under him in the 12th minute. The Cavemen would raise the game themselves looking to become the first team to win the trophy three times. They also had Pieterse to thank after he twice denied Ross Hetem in unbeleivable fashion.

Dayaan Cassiem was taken out in a heavy challenge, but the Cavemen played the ball quickly. Callum Buchanan found himself open on the top of the d and fired it home expertly. But the Dragons were back ahead shortly after when Bili Ntuli produced a sensational run and ball for Ross Hetem to finish. The Dragons should have had more but struck the upright twice before a superb finish by Amkelwe Letuka made it 3-1 and settled the game.

Mapungubwe Mambas (3) 1-1 (0) Garden Route Gazelles

It was a tight affair in the second match as Lungile Tsolekile’s Mambas took on good friend Ashlin Freddy’s Gazelles. The Mambas were the favourites having topped the group stage and showed that favouritism in the 6th minute through Luthando Jonas who found a pin point rocket into the bottom left corner.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoring, but Paton and Sibbald from the Gazelles and Dollman from the Mambas were all dented spectacularly. But finally, with four minutes left on the clock the Gazelles did equalize. A fumbled stop from a PC was worked across to Keenan Horne who finished sensationally. 1-1 the final score. The day had stated with a shootout and was going to do end the same way.

The earlier shootout needed extra rounds but this one needed only three. Ryan Mann, Ryan Julius and Mustaphaa Cassiem all netted theirs while no one breached the goal of Goals of Rob McKinley for the Mambas.

CTM Premier Hockey League – 03 August 2019

10:00 – Women’s Bronze – Orange River Rafters vs. Namaqualand Daisies
12:00 – Men’s Bronze – Maropeng Cavemen vs. Garden Route Gazelles
14:00 – Women’s Final – Madikwe Rangers vs. Wineland Wings
16:00 – Men’s Final – Drakensberg Dragons vs. Mapungubwe Mambas

SA Hockey Association media release



USIU stun Wazalendo as Telkom cruise

By AYUMBA AYODI and LOKEDER NATIOM


USIU's Clifford Ian (left) vies for the ball with Wazalendo's Stanley Chege during their men's hockey Premier League match at City Park Stadium, Nairobi on August 3, 2019. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

United States International University (USIU) needed Lawrence Makhatsa’s strike five minutes to the end to stun favourites Wazalendo 1-0 in a thrilling men’s hockey Premier League duel at City Park Stadium, Nairobi on Saturday.

Earlier, the evergreen Jackie Mwangi sunk a hat-trick as defending champions Telkom crushed Kenyatta University Titans 7-0, with Amira Sailors forcing Strathmore University Scorpions to a 0-0 draw at the same venue in the women's Premier League.

USIU might have shocked pre-match favourites Wazalendo, but the results saw them stay sixth with an improved tally of 10 points from two wins, four draws and three losses.

On the other hand, Telkom’s victory catapulted them two places to the top with 14 points, relegating USIU Spartans, also on 14 points to second place due to their superior goal difference.

Others scorers for Telkom, who led 3-0 at the break were Eleanor Chebet, who grabbed a brace, as well as Maureen Okumu and Flavia Mutiva, who scored one each.

Scorpions slumped one place to third with 12 points after they dropped vital points against Sailors, who stayed fifth, but with an improved tally of eight points.

USIU coach Tom Olal said they were in dire need of the victory so that they can close the first leg on a high and reflect on what to do in the final phase.

“We squandered many chances but getting the three points is what is important,” said Olal

“We scored at the right time when concertation was low and managed to sustain the pressure in the last two minutes.”

It was USIU’s second win after their 1-0 win against Sailors.

“The break gives us something to focus on after many draws and losses, but again, the boys now know they can do it if they want to,” said Olal.

Fidelis Kimanzi rued the many injuries and a depleted bench.

“The results are not what I wanted, but the performance was good considering that I missed most of my key players and those available had minor injuries which affected us,” said Kimanzi.

Daily Nation



Women on goal-scoring spree

By Jugjet Singh


SSTMI-UniTen pose for a group photo following the final match.- NSTP/Asyraf Hamzah.

Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts completed a grand double by retaining their Malaysian Junior Hockey League TNB Cup crown yesterday.

SSTMI, who had also won the league title this year, defeated Pahang Thunderbolts 3-0 in the final at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil for their eighth TNB Cup success.


SSTMI Thunderbolts’ Shamir Rizmi Shamsul celebrates after scoring one of his two goals against Pahang Thunderbolts in the TNB Cup final yesterday.- NSTP/Asyraf Hamzah

Shamir Rizmi Shamsul (fourth and 24th) and Amirul Hamizan Azahar (42nd) netted for the champions.

The women’s final, meanwhile, turned out to be a 10-goal thriller, with SSTMI-UniTen being crowned champions after defeating Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) Black Widows 6-4.


SSTMI-UniTen’s Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Shahrudin (centre) celebrates a with teammates at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. -NSTP/Asyraf Hamzah.

SSTMI-UniTen netted through Khairunnisa Ayuni Shahrudin (sixth, 42nd), Nur Syaza Afiqah Safawi (43rd, 51st), Nur Hafizah Maznan (27th) and Nur Anisa Kartika Rahman (39th).

Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli (32nd, 40th), Nur Atira Ismail (54th) and Nor Asfarina Isahyifiqa Isahhidun (59th) responded for PJCC.

It was SSTMI-UniTen’s third TNB Cup crown.


SSTMI Thunderbolts’ celebrate after winning the boys Junior Hockey League TNB Cup. -NSTP/Asyraf Hamzah.

“Last year, we lost in the semi-finals, so there was pressure on my players to perform in the final. There were anxious moments today but we managed hold on for the victory,” said SSTMI-UniTen coach Azlizam Abdul Shukor, who has been with the school since 2000, yesterday.

RESULTS — Men’s Final: SSTMI Thunderbolts 3 Pahang Thunderbolts 0; Bronze: SSMS Resilient 0 Anderson Thunderbolts 2.

Women’s Final: PJCC Black Widows 4 SSTMI-UniTen 6; Bronze: PKS UniTen 1 Mutiara Impian 3.

New Straits Time

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