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The Hockeyroos have solid their technique to the highest of Group D on the Hockey Girls’s World Cup after a 90-second blitz that noticed them rating twice to defeat Belgium 2-0.
Key factors:
- The Hockeyroos scored twice inside 90 seconds, together with Greta Hayes’ maiden worldwide objective
- Australia are actually high of Group D with another group stage match in opposition to South Africa
- The Hockeyroos performed simply 4 internationals this 12 months main into the match
In a match performed at Spain’s Estadi Olimpic de Terrassa, Greta Hayes (thirty ninth minute) scored her maiden worldwide objective halfway by means of the third quarter, earlier than Rebecca Greiner (fortieth minute) capitalised to double the benefit in a decisive interval of play.
The Hockeyroos are actually favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, a formidable feat for a crew that has performed simply 4 internationals for the reason that begin of the 12 months and main into the match.
Australia sit in Pool D alongside Belgium, Japan and South Africa, with Japan and South Africa but to win a recreation, and Belgium on one win.
The highest crew from every pool qualifies routinely for the quarter-finals.
Towards Belgium — who had twice as many photographs on objective — Australia carried out outstandingly in defence, particularly within the pressure-cooker first half.
The Belgians’ confidence was excessive after a 4-1 win over South Africa and the match began at a frenetic tempo, with the Hockeyroos’ European opponents trying extra settled.
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However, led by the dependable Karri Somerville and Penny Squibb, the Hockeyroos’ defence held agency, with goalkeeper Aleisha Energy pressured to make a save from a penalty nook simply earlier than quarter time with the scores tied 0-0.
Head Coach Katrina Powell implored her crew to be stronger within the contest within the second half and the Hockeyroos heeded the decision.
Jocelyn Bartram got here on to switch Energy within the second half and was pressured into a pointy save to maintain Belgium at bay.
However a inexperienced card to Belgium’s Pauline Leclef within the thirty eighth minute would show pivotal because the Hockeyroos took full benefit of the further participant.
Sensing the second, Jane Claxton despatched a looking out ball into the attacking circle.
Hayes initially jumped over the ball to let it run, inflicting chaos for the Belgian defence, earlier than reacting quickest to attain her maiden worldwide objective.
The Hockeyroos weren’t completed, nevertheless, with Kaitlin Nobbs firing one other circle entry down the center.
Grace Stewart then deflected the ball into the publish, with Greiner completely positioned to place within the rebound with a reverse shot.
With a 2-0 lead, the Hockeyroos had been once more pressured to defend bravely, with only a Squibb stick on the objective line stopping Belgium from clawing a objective again from a penalty nook.
Stephanie Kershaw was named the Participant of the Match for her efforts each defensively and with possession.
Talking after the match, Hayes mentioned the Hockeryoos knew the match-up with Belgium was a “must-win”.
“We’re very excited to get the win [because] we knew there was a variety of stress coming into the match,” she mentioned.
“Within the first half Belgium actually put us below a variety of stress, however at half-time we got here in and knew we simply wanted to maintain on working exhausting, carry on sticking to our course of, and we got here out within the second half and did that.”
The Hockeyroos play another group stage match, in opposition to South Africa, on the similar venue, on Thursday, July 7 at 5:30am AEST (9:30pm native time).
Each match of the 2022 Girls’s World Cup is screened dwell on Foxtel and Kayo.
ABC Sport
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