Spain 5-3 Belarus

A hat trick from Lola Riera ensured that World League Round 2 hosts Spain booked themselves a place in the tournament Semi Finals thanks to a stunning 5-3 victory over Belarus. Riera struck in the 3^rd, 16^th (both PCs) and 53^rd (PS) minute to help her team claim second place in the final standings behind Italy, who confirmed their Semi Final spot earlier in the day with a hard earned 1-0 win against Ireland.    

Spain came into the match knowing that only a victory in regulation time would be enough to see them through to the third round of the World League, and began the match in electrifying fashion. Lola Riera slammed home a penalty corner after just three minutes to give the Spaniards the perfect start, a lead which was doubled when the same player struck again midway through the half. The stunned Belarusians hit back with a field goal from Natassia Syrayezhka in the 21^st minute, but two goals in quick succession Raquel Huertas and Georgina Oliva gave Spain a huge 4-1 lead at the break.

Bealarus fought for their lives in the second half, and pulled the score back to 4-3 thanks to open play strikes from Krestina Kulinkovich (44m) and a second from Syrayezhka (52m) which had the potential to set up a thrilling finale. However, Spain knocked the wind out of the Belarusian sails just a minute later when Riera completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot, giving her team the victory and that all important berth in Round 3.