Australia secured a medal after beating undefeated Pakistan 5-2 in Singapore. Belgium won against Ghana 6-3 while Singapore went down to Chile 1-2.
Chile, Ghana and Singapore have still chances to qualify for the Bronze Medal Match.
Chile are qualified if they beat Australia and Ghana cannot defeat Singapore.
Singapore are qualified if they beat Ghana by at least four goals difference and Chile lose to Australia.
Ghana make the Bronze Medal Match if they beat Singapore or draw as long as Chile don't celebrate a big win against Australia.
Chile’s boys take first victory over hosts Singapore who suffer their fourth defeat
Chile beat Singapore in Saturday’s last match 2-1. Chile can still reach the Bronze Medal Match if they beat Australia on Monday and Ghana does not defeat Singapore.
Both teams were still on zero points and waited for their first victory. It was obvious that the loser of this game will definitely play off in Wednesday’s match for the 5th place. The crowd saw Singapore and Chile competing on the same level with chances either side. Chile took the lead in the middle of the second half when Matias MARDONES won possession near the circle-line and smashed the ball into the goal. Singapore missed to tie the score afterwards. Felipe TAPIA doubled the lead just before the halftime whistle.
Team Chile, who had replaced their first goalkeeper Felix SCHIEGG by Valentin ARGUINDEGUI today, was the better side at the beginning of the second half. Singapore became stronger after Mohd Haseef SALIM cut the lead in half. The hosts, pushed forward by the spectators, did not give up fighting, kept on attacking and won a few penalty corners. Chile’s defence did a great job and denied all attempts. Singapore will now probably play off for the 5th place in Wednesday’s classification matches unless they beat Ghana by at least four goals difference and Chile are defeated by Australia.
Singapore v Chile 1-2 (0-2)
0-1 14' Matias MARDONES (FG)
0-2 32' Felipe TAPIA (FG)
1-2 51' Mohd Haseef SALIM (PC)
Fourth victory makes Australia’s boys play for Gold on Wednesday
Australia beat Pakistan 5-2 in Saturday’s encounter between the two undefeated teams and take the lead in the table. Pakistan and Belgium compete for the second spot in the final on Monday.
Pakistan started off with great pace and wanted something quick. Their first penalty corner failed in the 8th minute as the first shot on goal was too high; but soon after they opened the scoring. Muhammad Arslan QADIR had a strong run towards goal and left the Australian goalkeeper Andrew BUTTURINI no chance. QADIR scored his eighth goal in this tournament making him join Belgium’s Arno DEVREKER as top scorer. Oscar WOOKEY failed to equalise with a penalty corner, his shot was saved brilliantly by Pakistan’s goalkeeper Mazhar ABBAS who went down afterwards. After a short treatment he was back on his feet. The next penalty corner led to the
1-1 equaliser: The first shot was saved again but Rory MIDDLETON tipped in the rebound at the long post. Strong counter-attacking Pakistan kept the pace up however the young Kookaburras scored the next goal. Daniel BEALE finished from open play.
The second half was dominated by the Australian boys giving Pakistan less space. Daniel MATHIESEN, Oscar WOOKEY and Rory MIDDLETON extended the lead to 5-1 in the middle of the second half. WOOKEY’s penalty corner flick went directly under the crossbar and MIDDLETON linked well with Ryan EDGE. Muhammad RIZWAN made it 2-5 afterwards taking the ball reverse-stick-side.
Pakistan need at least a draw against Belgium on Monday to join Australia in the final. If Pakistan lose, they will play for the Bronze.
Pakistan v Australia 2-5 (1-2)
1-0 9' Muhammad Arslan QADIR (FG)
1-1 20' Rory MIDDLETON (PC)
1-2 29' Daniel BEALE (FG)
1-3 42' Daniel MATHIESEN (FG)
1-4 46' Oscar WOOKEY (PC)
1-5 51' Rory MIDDLETON (FG)
2-5 52' Muhammad RIZWAN (FG)
Belgium Boys defeat Ghana 3-6 and qualify for a Medal Match
Belgium are on nine points now and cannot drop out off the medal matches as Singapore and Chile cannot overtake anymore. Ghana still can qualify for the Bronze Medal match if they beat Singapore on Monday.
Belgium started off nervously after yesterday’s defeat 3-6 against Australia. The European under 18 Champions knew that they had to win today’s encounter to keep chances on Wednesday’s Gold Medal match. The Belgian boys were the dominant side but failed to score. In the 6th minute Matthias DUBIOS and Dimitri CUVELIER linked well but Ghana’s goalkeeper Eugene ACHEAMPONG showed a terrific save. Belgium’s first penalty corner was taken by Benjamin van DAM whose shot hit the post. The next penalty corner was successful when Alexander HENDRICKX’s drag flick found its way into the net. Afterwards Ghana created some opportunities but couldn’t test Belgian goalie Arnaud FLAMAND to his limit.
Belgium’s Nicolas de KERPEL missed a great chance to double the lead: He received a pass in the circle but couldn’t convert the first shot as well as its rebound. Ghana equalised in the 28th minute when team-captain Alfred NTIAMOAH hammered the ball into the bottom right corner at Ghana’s first penalty corner. Belgium took back their lead 90 seconds later when HENDRICKX flicked in a penalty corner. HENDRICKX completed his hat-trick at the beginning of the second half. Five minutes later Arno DEVREKER extended the lead to 4-1 also making him new top scorer with eight goals in total. Team Ghana came back to 3-4 and was close to equalising. Johnny BOTSIO’s yellow card was a disadvantage for his team as Belgium scored twice while Ghana was short handed.
Ghana v Belgium 3-6 (1-2)
0-1 16' Alexander HENDRICKX (PC)
1-1 28' Alfred NTIAMOAH (PC)
1-2 31' Alexander HENDRICKX (PC)
1-3 44’ Alexander HENDRICKX (PC)
1-4 49' Arno DEVREKER (FG)
2-4 51' Johnny BOTSIO (PC)
3-4 64' Selorm KEMEVOR (FG)
3-5 65' Louis ROMBOUTS (FG)
3-6 69' Matthew DAMALIE (FG)
The FIH tournament micro site http://www.worldhockey.org/yog/ will be bringing you extensive coverage of all the action from the first Youth Olympic Games. The site will provide all official information and news from the tournament, keeping you fully up-to-date with the latest scores and league tables. The site will also include written match previews and reports, action photos, video interviews and much more. Photos of the opening ceremony are provided as well.
