In today's third round of pool matches, the Czech Republic won their first points with a win over the USA, while Belgium booked an important victory over Ireland, and Argentina celebrated a resounding 7:3 win over neighbors Chile.
USA - Czech Republic 1:3 (0:2)
Starting off the day, the USA and the Czech Republic met in a fight to get away from the bottom of the table, which the Czech claiming a comprehensive 3:1 win.
While not the vastly superior team on the field, the Czech were more efficient today, making good use of an early opportunity to get a foot in the door when Dan Piterak struck the ball into the net to give them the lead in the 12th minute. A double hit in the first seven minutes of the second half, with Stepan Bernatek sinking a penalty corner and Tomas Jahoda deflecting a ball into the circle, sealed the deal and took the Czech into the safety zone.
The US team on the other hand struggled from beginning to end to keep the Czech at bay. On the chances they managed to create, the found themselves unable to make them count, in part also thanks to another rock-solid performance from Czech goalkeeper Filip Neusser. Not even a penalty stroke could do the trick, ending up in Steven Mann succumbing to the pressure, turning out a weak shot that Neusser had no difficulties with.
Five minutes before the final whistle, Jon Ginolfi made a dash into the circle and sunk what was to be the first and only goal for the USA with a marvelous reverse stick shot. The US boys pushed to salvage a point from the encounter, attacking wildly as the clock ticked down, but they ran out of time and it was the Czech who went away with their first points today, leaving the USA with the red lantern.
Ireland - Belgium 0:3 (0:2)
In the highly anticipated European summit that followed, Ireland had to give way to a Belgian team that laid down its claim for victory early and never looked back.
Putting two goals on the scoreboard in the first ten minutes of the game through Jerome Truyens and Jerome Dekeyser, the Red Devils put their stamp on the game and derailed the Irish campaign almost before it had started. The Irish never recovered from the initial outburst from their opponents, and could not overcome the advantage established by the Belgians.
Just after the second half had started, Benjamin van Hove added a third goal for Belgium to make it 3:0, while Ireland fought with increasing intensity as the clock wound down towards the end of the match but found themselves unable to put significant pressure on the Belgian goal. The match thus ended with the third consecutive win for Belgium who were the more efficient team today, making good use of theirs in a match of few scoring opportunities to put them at the top of the table. Ireland left the pitch without scoring and now faces an uphill battle in their campaign for a spot in the final.
Chile - Argentina 3:7 (0:3)
Rounding off the day, hosts Argentina booked an important win over Chile to maintain themselves on maximum points after three rounds as well.
The home team entered the pitch exuding supreme confidence, and soon put down their foot with two goals from man of the match Pedro Ibarra, who scored a total five goals today, two from penalty strokes and three from penalty corners, taking himself to a solitary lead in the topscorer list. Two goals down after ten minutes, Chile went all out to keep the scoreline from increasing, keeping the Argentines at bay for twenty minutes, but a pair of Pedro Ibarra goals, one shortly before and one shortly after the break, pushed the scoreline to 4:0.
Two minutes after the fourth Argentina goal, Jaime Zarhi first got Chile on the scoreboard, converting a penalty corner but Argentina swiftly responded with Mario Almada and Matias Vila adding another pair of goals. Martin Rodriguez then added a pair of goals for Chile, first putting a penalty corner into the net, then following up with a field goal, but it was too late to put real pressure on the Argentines.
Pedro Ibarra scored his last goal of the day in the 65th minute, establishing a 7:3 final score that sent Argentina home content after doing a very efficient task in defining the match from the beginning, while Chile, in spite of having had some great opportunities, could not manage to dominate the match at any time and had to bow to a whirlwind home team today.
At the half way point in the competition, Belgium and Argentina thus sit at the top of the table, each having won maximum points from their first three encounters. Ireland follows behind in third place on six points, followed by the Czech Republic in fourth position on three. Chile and the USA trail the field, still looking for their first points in the tournament.
After another rest day, play resumes on Thursday with the USA and Chile opening the proceedings, followed by the match between the Czech Republic and Ireland. Argentina and Belgium conclude the day in the battle for the number one spot.
For all information on the BDO Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Quilmes, please visit our tournament site http://www.quilmes2009.sportcentric.com.
USA - Czech Republic 1:3 (0:2)
12min CZE Dan PITERAK (FG)
38min CZE Stepan BERNATEK (PC)
42min CZE Tomas JAHODA (FG)
65min USA Jon GINOLFI (FG)
Ireland - Belgium 0:3 (0:2)
8min BEL Jerome TRUYENS (FG)
10min BEL Jerome DEKEYSER (FG)
36min BEL Benjamin van HOVE (FG)
Chile - Argentina 3:7 (0:3)
9min ARG Pedro IBARRA (PS)
10min ARG Pedro IBARRA (PC)
31min ARG Pedro IBARRA (PC)
36min ARG Pedro IBARRA (PS)
38min CHI Jaime ZARHI (PC)
52min ARG Mario ALMADA (FG)
54min ARG Matias VILA (PC)
55min CHI Martin RODRIGUEZ (PC)
62min CHI Martin RODRIGUEZ (FG)
65min ARG Pedro IBARRA (PC)
