Japan also won their fourth game and have already qualified for Sunday's gold medal match. Azerbaijan and Belarus have still chances to grab the second spot. Russia are out after losing to Wales.
Wales v Russia 2-1 (1-0)
Russia also needed a victory to keep their chances open for a spot in Sunday's final. Wales have already lost three games and started without any pressure. The Welsh ladies gained seven penalty corners in the first half. One of them was converted by Tina Evans (20') and gave them the 1-0 lead. Russia definitely had chances to equalise but were very unlucky in the Welsh circle. Margarita Drepenkina missed the empty goal and Russian top scorer Kristina Shumlina's attempt failed when she missed the ball.
In the second half Russia put Wales under pressure. Wales defended and struggled to get the ball out off their half. 20 minutes before the final whistle Emma Griffiths was sent off with a yellow card. Russia dominated and went for the equaliser. In the 48th minute another penalty corner failed when Welsh keeper Margaret Rees saved three attempts in row.
Surprisingly Welsh captain Carys Hopkins (57') increased the lead when she tipped in the goalkeeper's rebound at a penalty corner. Only four minutes later Svetlana Grigorieva finally scored the first goal for Russia. The hosts tried to put Wales under pressure again but couldn't make the equaliser. Wales celebrate the first victory and Russia have no chances to play in the final.
1-0 20' Tina Evans (PC)
2-0 57' Carys HOPKINS (PC)
2-1 61' Svetlana GRIGORIEVA (PC)
Azerbaijan v Japan 0-2 (0-2)
Japan needed to win this encounter to safely qualify for Sunday's final. They began with a lot pace and created some good opportunities. For example Ai Murakami's penalty corner flick hit the crossbar and Kana Nagayama received a pass from Keiko Miura but was not able to control it and tip it into the empty goal (16'). Three minutes later Japan took the deserved lead when Natsumi Tameto managed to convert a rebound of goalkeeper Viktoriya Shahbazova. Before halftime Kaori Chiba (33') increased the lead by scoring her fourth goal in this tournament. Japan were dominating the first half and Azerbaijan struggled to enter the opponent's circle.
During the second half Japan had still more ball possession than Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan became dangerous with long flicks coming from the defenders. Striker Myungsoon Mammadova tried to receive them but Ai Murakami marked her well.
To sum up today's second game Japan deserved the early qualification for the gold medal match. Azerbaijan had no shots at the Japanese goal in the second half while Japan had two more penalty corner which failed.
Depending on the result of Russia v Wales up to three more teams keep their chances open for the final.
0-1 19' Natsumi TAMETO (FG)
0-2 33' Kaori CHIBA (FG)
Belarus v Italy 5-2 (2-0)
In today's first match Belarus took on Italy. Both teams knew that the loser of this match could not qualify for Sunday's final. Italy started very nervous while Belarus showed self-confidence after their victory against Russia. Their first attack lead to a goal when Yulia Laptsevich scored in the 2nd minute. Afterwards Italy's Daniela Possali missed two great opportunities to equalise. First her shot went wide over the crossbar and a few minutes later her second attempt failed as well. She received a pass from Francesca Faustini but failed to capilalise. In the 22nd minute Belarus captain Volha Shyntar increased the lead by scoring her second goal of the tournament.
Italy started stronger into the second half. Immediately they gained a penalty corner which was converted by Francesca Faustini (39'). Another Italian short corner failed only two minutes later. Meanwhile Belarus played more defensively and concentrated on counter-attacks. One of them was successful when Volha Shyntar (43') received a pass at the circle line and deflected it into the goal. Chiara Tiddi's (54') 3-2 brought Italy back into the game. But the Italian hopes were destroyed by the goals of Maryia Korzh-Tsepun (59') and Yulia Laptsevich (61').
2' 1-0 Yulia LAPTSEVICH (FG)
22' 2-0 Volha SHYNTAR (FG)
39' 2-1 Francesca FAUSTINI (PC)
43' 3-1 Volha SHYNTAR (FG)
54' 3-2 Chiara TIDDI (PC)
59' 4-2 Maryia KORZH-TSEPUN (PC)
61' 5-2 Yulia LAPTSEVICH (FG)
All action from the BDO World Cup Qualifier in Kazan, Russia can be followed live through the special micro site of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Please click here for direct access.
