In today's action at the BDO Champions Challenge in Boom, New Zealand secured a berth in the tournament final with a draw against hosts Belgium, while Argentina defeated India for a slightly better position in the race for becoming the other finalist and England won against Japan to pick up their first points in the event.
The match between the two teams at the bottom of the table, Japan and England, started off the day in Boom. The score seesawed from Japan taking the lead to England taking over to Japan pulling even to England reclaiming the lead and extending it to two goals. A late consolation goal for Japan diminished the English lead again but the match was won and Jason Lee's boys had finally earned their first points in the event.
Next up were Argentina and Japan. In a scrappy match with few memorable scenes, Argentina were the lucky party at the end after Jorge Lombi had givne them the lead with a penalty corner goal and Mario Almada had produced the highlight of the match with a lovely solo run and a spectacular reverse stick goal.
India weren't about to concede defeat yet, but were time and again by Mariano Chao, the Argentina goalkeeper who produced a number of brilliant saves today to keep his team ahead. India eventually got on the scoreboard when Sandeep Singh converted a penlaty stroke late in the game but they ran out of time. Argentina took the glory and are now in a slightly better position for the last round of pool matches that will decide which team joins New Zealand in the final.
New Zealand and the home team concluded the day with the most exciting match of the day, an open battle between the unexpectedly equal teams in which the hosts became the first team to take points off table leaders New Zealand in this tournament.
Two goals from New Zealand's new young star Simon Child and a penalty stroke converted by Dean Couzins had the Blacksticks ahead at half time, their three goals being met with only two by Belgium, one by Thomas Briels and one from a free hit deflection by Xavier Reckinger.
The second half was somewhat less frantic than the first but still one of the most attractive pieces of hockey in this tournament so far. Action seesawed back and forth, and it was a lone second half goal, scored by Charles Vandeweghe to crown a fantastic performance today that made him a key player for his side in this match, that established the final score of 3-3 between the two teams.
New Zealand may have dropped their first points, but this draw is enough to confirm then as the one definitive finalist on Sunday, regardless of tomorrow's results.
After the tournament's last rest day on Friday, the competition continues on Saturday with the last round of pool matches. Argentina open the day against New Zealand and need to at least draw to make the final in case India win their match against Japan. The day ends with the European summit between Belgium and England.
For more from the BDO Champions Challenge in Boom, visit the WorldHockey tournament site.
