| # | Info | Date | Teams | Score | Status | Match Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31st, 2012 | ||||||
| 10 | Pool A | 4:00pm |
|
5 - 3 (2 - 1) | Final | |
Great Britain continued to impress its home fans after earning a 5-3 win in a see-saw match against Korea in the second Olympic outing for both teams. With the game tied at three, the hosts scored two goals just over a minute apart to earn their second win in this Olympic tournament.
Georgi Twigg and Chloe Rogers netted the key goals with less than ten minutes left in regulation. Both were the result of solid second efforts and fancy stick work. Great Britain had the game well in control for much of the 70 minutes, but a lapse midway through the second half allowed Korea to edge into the game, creating some tense moments for the partisan crowd.
Nicola White got things rolling just five minutes in when she single-handedly streaked down the right wing, zigzagging around the Korean defense and finishing the play by slipping the ball past goalkeeper Jang Soo Ji. Korea equalized when they found themselves in rare territory in front of the British net. Kim Darae tapped in the easy shot from point blank range.
Crista Cullen restored the spark to the GB when she fired in a penalty corner shot for the 2-1 lead, which stood through the half. Just a minute later Korea pulled goalkeeper Jang Soo Ji in favor of Moon Young Hui.
Great Britain got things started on the right foot in the second half. Just three minutes after the break, Alex Danson gave her team its biggest lead of the match when her penalty corner shot popped up and over the leg of Moon Young Hui. Danson’s day wasn’t all roses, she was carried off the field on a stretcher in the waning moments of the game after sustaining an injury.
But Korea wasn’t finished, as they staged a comeback shortly after the 3-1 goal went in. Han Hye Lyoung ripped a shot in after scooping up the rebound on a penalty corner attempt and four minutes later Park Mi Hyun tied things up when she was left unmarked in front of the British net to finish a tic-tac-toe play.
The win was a big boost for the GB team, which was playing without captain Kate Walsh, who sustained a injury to the jaw in the opening match and is questionable to return to action. But with Danson added to the injury list, the boost may be short lived, depending on her prognosis.
(Eric Bailey)