Netherlands and Argentina joined England and Korea in the semifinals of the BDO Junior World Cup in Boston, USA. Netherlands eliminated Germany (1-0) thanks to a ‘lucky bounce’ of Emilie Mol. Two goals of Rocio Gonzalez Canda helped Argentina to take a 4-2 victory over China.
Day nine of the BDO Junior World Cup in Boston, USA was the last day of pool play prior to the cross-over qualification matches. The day began with Belarus and Spain in a Pool G matchup, followed by three Pool F matches between New Zealand and South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands, and China and Argentina.
The matchup between the Netherlands and Germany was a battle between these two traditionally strong hockey sides for the top spot in pool F. Amongst loud cheering fans from both countries, the Netherlands came out on the offensive and were first to score in the 12th minute after Emilie Mol’s reverse shot got a lucky bounce off the right goal post. While Germany held possession for the later part of the first half, they couldn’t break past the Netherlands and ended the first half down 1-0. In the second half, the Netherlands came out on the attack and never looked back. While the Netherlands couldn’t manage to convert a handful of penalty corners and had a number of shots brilliantly blocked by Germany’s keeper Kim Platten, they did what they had to do to keep Germany from crossing into its attacking half of the pitch. And thus, to the sounds of noisemakers and fans counting down in Dutch, the Netherlands secured the top spot they were holding in Pool F and showed why they may be the one to beat for the BDO Junior World Cup championship.
The next and final Pool F match featured another hard fought battle, this time between Argentina and China. Argentina dominated most of the first half and Rocio Gonzalez Canda got her team on the board in the 13th minute off a hard drive into the left corner. China was unable to break through into their attacking circle for much of the half, but tied the match 1-1 on a Jiahui Liao penalty corner in the 24th minute. Ten minutes later Gonzalez Canda scored again, this time off a penalty corner to put Argentina back on top 2-1 to end the half. In the second half, it was China who came out firing and tied match 2-2 on a Wenting Zhang penalty corner in the 41st minute. Not to be outdone, Argentina’s Natalia Del Frari converted Argentina’s next penalty corner in the 44th minute to go ahead of China, 3-2. China was relentless in trying to get back on their attacking end, but was dealt a major set back when Yang Sun received a yellow card with about ten minutes to go in the match. A couple minutes later, Argentina’s Martina Cavallero sent a beautiful drag flick from just inside the left of the circle to make it 4-2. And as just as the Netherlands had done before them, but this time with boisterous Argentinean fans cheering from the stands, Argentina erupted into celebration over their assured semi-final spot with their win over China in Pool F [that enabled Argentina to move ahead of Germany.]
The other Pool F matchup featured South Africa and New Zealand, who were also looking to move up in Pool F. While New Zealand dominated much of the first half, it was South Africa who took the 1-0 lead in the 35th minute off a Nicolene Terblanche field goal. After back and forth play, New Zealand scored two goals within a four minute span to go up 2-1 in the 48th minute. However, South Africa’s Nicole Kemp countered in the 54th minute to bring the match to a 2-2 draw. Elizabeth Gunson blasted a penalty corner shot to put New Zealand back on top over South Africa in the 62nd minute. New Zealand’s 3-2 lead over South Africa stood and moves the junior blacksticks up in Pool F.
Under the cloudy skies of Boston, USA Belarus began the morning of day nine still looking for its first tournament win. Spain took a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes of play off a penalty corner by Maria Lopez and Carlota Petchame field goal. In the second half, Belarus scored first to make it 2-1 after Krestsina Kulinkovich snuck a penalty corner shot past Spain’s keeper into the left side of the cage. After a controversial penalty corner took place as time expired, Spain went up 3-1 off a Paula Pastor penalty corner goal. Thus, with the 3-1 win over Belarus, Spain secured its top spot in Pool G.
Action at the BDO Junior World Cup continues on Friday after Thursday’s rest day. On Friday, the two semifinals Netherlands-Korea and England-Argentina are scheduled.
All action from Boston can be followed ‘live’ through the special micro site of the FIH. Please click here for direct access to the BDO Junior World Cup website.
Results BDO Junior World Cup Monday 10 August 2009
Pool F:
New Zealand-South Africa 3:2 (0:1)
Germany-Netherlands 0:1 (0:1)
China-Argentina 2:4 (1:2)
Pool G:
Belarus-Spain 1:3 (0:2)
