Olympic Games London 2012
London, Great Britain - July 29 - 10, 2012
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USA V NZL ( Pool B ) Olympic Games London 2012

USA
2 - 3
NZL

Match Review USA - NZL 2-3

Goals

Team Minute Shirt # Player Action Score
NZL 2 1 SHARLAND Kayla PC 0 - 1
USA 16 16 O'DONNELL Katie FG 1 - 1
NZL 19 22 FLYNN Gemma PC 1 - 2
USA 34 21 LAUBACH Claire PC 2 - 2
NZL 64 16 ESHUIS Clarissa PC 2 - 3

Cards

Team Minute Shirt # Player Type
NZL 21 21 FINLAYSON Cathryn G
USA 27 5 GONZALEZ Melissa G
NZL 31 16 ESHUIS Clarissa G
NZL 35 31 MICHELSEN Stacey Y
USA 63 8 DAWSON Rachel G
NZL 67 31 MICHELSEN Stacey Y

USA

Minute Shirt # Name Goals Green Yellow Red
Bench
 5 GONZALEZ Melissa 1
X
 8 DAWSON Rachel 1
X
 9 VITTESE Michelle
X
 11 TAYLOR Shannon
X
 12 REINPRECHT Julia
X
 13 PUZO Keli
X
 14 REINPRECHT Katie
X
 16 O'DONNELL Katie 1
Bench
 18 KASOLD Michelle
Bench
 19 NICHOLS Caroline
Bench
 20 SELENSKI Paige
X
 21 LAUBACH Claire 1
X
 23 FALGOWSKI Katelyn
X
 25 TRAN-SWENSEN Amy
Bench
 26 BASHORE Kayla
X
 27 CRANDALL Lauren

NZL

Minute Shirt # Name Goals Green Yellow Red
X
 1 SHARLAND Kayla 1
X
 2 NAYLOR Emily
X
 3 FORGESSON Krystal
X
 5 GLYNN Katie
Bench
 9 MILLINGTON Alana
Bench
 12 GUNSON Ella
X
 13 CHARLTON Samantha
X
 16 ESHUIS Clarissa 1 1
Bench
 20 HARRISON Samantha
X
 21 FINLAYSON Cathryn 1
Bench
 22 FLYNN Gemma 1
X
 28 HARRISON Charlotte
Bench
 29 COOPER Melody
X
 30 RUSSELL Bianca
X
 31 MICHELSEN Stacey 2
X
 32 PUNT Anita

DNP = Did not participate
S = Suspended
DSQ = Disqualified

Match Officials

Role Official
Umpire 1 de la FUENTE Carolina
Umpire 2 KANG Hyun Young
Reserve Umpire ADENOT Claire
Judge 1 PETITJEAN Sylvie
Judge 2 SHIN Jung Hee
Technical Officer BROWN Sheila

A Clarissa Eshuis drag-flick five minutes from time fired New Zealand to a crucial win over USA that keeps them very much alive in the semi-final hunt. That it took so long for the critical goal to finally come was a surprise as the kiwis pace and guile up front should have had them clear earlier but for the goalkeeping exploits of Amy Swensen.

She saved a glut of chances to keep the US in the hunt, grabbing two equalisers in the first half to cancel out strikes from Kayla Sharland and Gemma Flynn. But Eshuis got the only goal of the second half to claim a third New Zealand win of the campaign. They wasted no time in establishing a lead, Kayla Sharland sweeping home – via a defender’s stick – from a penalty corner just 70 seconds in.

Their direct running, especially down the right flank, was causing all manner of problems with Alicia Punt to the fore. But they were stunned by the concession of a 17th minute equaliser as Katie O’Donnell impudently snuck a stick in to flip the ball over Bianca Russell. The chance appeared to have petered out after Paige Selenski’s great run but Melody Cooper dallied allowing the striker to nip in. New Zealand’s lead was restored soon after as another Sharland shot created havoc, pinballing off a defender to Stacey Michelsen to volley across goal to Gemma Flynn to tap in. The US argued danger but the video review denied that avenue.

Amy Swensen kept the US in the tie with saves from Punt and Katie Glynn while Samantha Harrison swept over a gilt-edge chance. But, once again, the Americans sucker-punched. First, Michelle Kasold’s strike just got away from Shannon Taylor a yard out before Claire Laubach levelled in the 33rd minute. She did not seem to get full power behind her corner push but it ricocheted off Russell and her post-woman to dribble over the line.

The second half was equally open with the black sticks making most of the play after an early flurry from Paige Selenski and Michelle Kasold. Glynn again drew a fine reactions save from Swensen while Charlotte Harrison smashed the post from a corner rebound. A third goal was disallowed on umpire’s referral when Stacey Michelson – twice sin-binned in the game, too – fired a high reverse which Glynn redirected into the goal. That touch was deemed dangerous by the video umpire to keep New Zealand nervy for the closing phases.

But Eshuis came to the rescue from the sixth corner, a key goal to push her side up to nine points and ahead of Australia on goal difference.

  • Match 23
  • Date Sat, 4 Aug 2012
  • Time 19:00
  • Pool/Class Pool B
  • Venue
Hero Odisha Nagra Dream11 Osaka Polytan

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