On day four of the BDO Champions Trophy, Women, here in Argentina, the different paths to the classification matches were laid out as World Champions Netherlands recorded their fourth consecutive win in this tournament and secured their berth in the final, while Spain and Japan could not avoid defeats by Germany and Argentina respectively and are thus already the certain contestants of the relegation match on Sunday.
The day began with the encounter between Germany and Spain. While Germany had the opportunity to heave themselves out of the relegation zone for good, Spain needed to win to so much as hold on to the possibility of avoiding the relegation match.
Much of the match turned out to be stalemate however, the two teams equal opponents without an opportunity to develop an advantage, and they mostly neutralized each other far from their respective circles.
In the end, Germany were the luckier team, taking a one goal lead into halftime after Nadine Ernsting-Krienke deflected a free hit with the ball crashing into the board only seconds from the horn.
The second half provided mostly listless back-and-forth, interrupted only by a penalty corner goal from Julia M├╝ller and torrential rainfalls as a thunderstorm moved over the stadium.
In the last few minutes of the match, Spain finally awakened and displayed offensive energy, which resulted in the 1:2 by Barbara Malda, as she scooped a pass from Montserrat Cruz over the goalkeeper. Eventually it was too little too late though, and Germany booked their bronze medal match berth with this win, confining Spain to the relegation match.
Play continued with Australia taking on the Netherlands. Luckily, the rain had ended and conditions were good for hockey again.
The Netherlands dominated from the beginning, but Australia kept up nicely, giving them a good run for their money.
An early goal by the World Champions was enough to see them through though, with Eva de Goede taking advantage of good groundwork from Fatima Moreira de Melo, deflecting a pass into the net.
The rest of the game was a lot of midfield squabbles but few shots on goal on either side. The Netherlands, in the absence of striker par excellence Kim Lammers who was left in the stands with ankle problems, contented themselves with holding on to their lead, attacking but appearing not as decisive and dangerous as in previous matches. Australia tried but was no match for the World Champions today, and the match ended 0:1 for the Netherlands.
As usual, the Leonas wrapped up the day, today against Japan, who were still awaiting their first ever Champions Trophy goal. The first fifteen minutes of the match, it looked like the hosts were going to steamroller the Asians, with the game firmly lodged in the Japanese half of the field and a string of chances for Argentina.
Japan rebounded nicely from their initial stunned apathy however, plucking up courage and exhibiting a growing forward drive as the match progressed. While the Japanese now managed to keep their opponents in check and even had a few very nice opportunities, they could not avoid a penalty corner near the end of the first half giving Argentina the halftime lead as Noel Barrionuevo hit a bouncy ball towards the goal that went over Okamura.
The second half started as the first had, Argentina going all out against a somewhat forlorn Japanese team, and soon enough, the hosts were three goals up with Marine Russo and the 2006 World Cup's Young Player of the Tournament, Carla Rebecchi, increasing the tally.
Following these two goals, Japan still worked tirelessly but could not achieve much against a confident and efficient Argentine ensemble. A yellow card for Rika Komazawa didn't help, but the tournament novices still succeeded in scoring their first ever Champions Trophy goal when Sakae Morimoto hit home a nice reverse stick shot from a narrow angle from the left.
Japan will thus meet Spain in their last match of the group phase on Saturday, and again in the relegation match on Sunday, while Argentina need a win or draw in their match with Australia on Saturday to make the final. The match between table leaders Netherlands and Germany can have no effect on the composition of the Sunday matches, with the Dutch already qualified for the final, and Germany locked into the match for bronze.
BDO Hockey Champions Trophy, Women
Results day 4: Thursday 18 January 2007
Spectators: 5'500
Germany : Spain 2:1 (1:0)
35. Nadine Ernsting-Krienke 1:0; 50. Julia M├╝ller 2:0; 68. Barbara Malda 2:1
Australia : Netherlands 0:1 (0:1)
18. Eva de Goede 0:1
Japan : Argentina 1:3 (0:1)
32. Noel Barrionuevo 0:1; 40. Marine Russo 0:2; 46. Carla Rebecchi 0:3; 65. Sakae Marimoto 1:3
