The women's team of Spain was responsible for the biggest upset of the Samsung Hockey Indoor World Cup by eliminating defending champion Germany (4-3) in Saturday's semifinal here in Vienna, Austria. Spain will meet Netherlands in the final. The Dutch team booked an easy victory over Ukraine (8-0).
Germany and Poland will play the final of the Men's Samsung Indoor World Cup. The World Title holder defeated Spain (3-2), while Poland was just better then Czech Republic (4-2).
Spain stunned the world of indoor hockey by defeating the world champions Germany 4-3. The most incredible of matches was enlightened by a superb performance from Spanish keeper Maria Jesus Rosa who made a string of wonderful saves throughout the match.
Against all the odds, Spain had the better of the first half, and put Germany under more pressure than they have experienced at any other point in this tournament. Julia Muller scored an excellent field goal for Germany in the fourth minute, but Spain stunned the crowd with an equalizer from Silvia Munoz, who finished off a slick passing move. Germany then fell behind for the first time in the tournament when Nuria Camon scored, and made it 3-1 thanks to another Munoz field goal.
Germany looked in shock, but started the second half brilliantly with goals from Marion Rodewald and Jennifer Plass to tie the scores. The match became a fiercely intense contest, with both sides defending excellently. However, Spain's captain marvel Munoz scrambled the ball over the line to complete her hat-trick on 38 minutes. Germany chased hard, but Spain hung on for one of the most unexpected results in the history of indoor hockey.
The Netherlands stormed into the final with a devastating display against Ukraine. The result never looked in doubt as the Dutch girls controlled the game from start to finish, and look in exceptional form ahead of Sunday's final. Netherlands captain Marieke Dijkstra opened the scoring six minutes into the game with a penalty corner, and it was soon 3-0 thanks to two goals in a minute from Belle van Meer and Alessia Padalino.
By the 13th minute Joelle Hoebert and Jolanda Plijter had added to the score with Van Meer making it 6-0 at half time. Ukraine coped better in the second half, but with the game already won the Netherlands in no hurry to score. However, a 26th minute goal from Claire Verhage and another Padalino strike two minutes from time produced an emphatic semifinal score-line.
Germany took revenge in the semifinals of the Men's Samsung Indoor World Cup. The defending champion took a 3:2 victory over Spain. Oscar Deecke scored the winning goal with only one minute the play.
Poland will be the opponent of Germany in Sunday's final. Tomasz Dutkiewicz was the two-goal hero for Poland as his side bounce back from a goal down to secure a place in the men's final of the Samsung World Cup. Czech Republic was quickest out of the blocks and scored the first goal of the game, with Stepan Bernatek's strike in the second minute stunning the match favorites.
Dutkiewicz had a penalty flick expertly saved by Czech Republic keeper Filip Neusser, but Poland found an equalizer from playmaker Dariusz Rachwalski's penalty stroke. Dutkiewicz then bounced back in the best possible way with two stunning strikes. He gave Poland a 2-1 lead just after the break with a brilliant flicked penalty corner effort that flew into the bottom left corner.
Czech Republic chased for an equalizer, but Polish powerhouse Dutkiewicz scored another sensational corner, and then provided a visionary pass from defense all the way through to Piotr Mikula who deflected the ball into the goal for a winning score-line of 4-2.
The Samsung Indoor World Cup will come to a conclusion on Sunday with the two finals, the two bronze medal matches and the classification matches for the fifth position scheduled.
For more information, including live scores, photos, match sheets and tournament news, click here.
Samsung Hockey Indoor World Cup
Results Saturday 17 February 2007
Place: Stadthalle Vienna, Austria
Spectators: 2'300.
Men, semifinals:
Germany ÔÇô Spain 3:2 (2:1)
Poland ÔÇô Czech Republic 4:2 (1:1)
Men, classification matches:
7-8: Canada ÔÇô Australia 5:4 (1:2)
9-10: Switzerland ÔÇô Italy 3:3 (2:0), Switzerland wins after penalty strokes 3:1.
11-12: South Africa- Trinidad & Tobago 4:2 (3:1)
Women, semifinals:
Germany ÔÇô Spain 3:4 (1:3)
Netherlands ÔÇô Ukraine 8:0 (6:0)
Women, classification matches:
7-8: Austria ÔÇô Scotland 3:1 (0:0)
9-10: Canada ÔÇô Italy 2:2 (1:1), Canada wins after penalty strokes 3:2.
11-12: Czech Republic ÔÇô South Africa 5:1 (0:1)
