OLYMPIC GAMES, 12 August 2008
Tuesday 12th Aug 08
Australia 6 Spain 1
USA 1 Japan 1
China 3 South Africa 0
Netherland 3 Korea 2
Germany 2 New Zealand 1
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| 2 | (2) | - | 2 | (0) | GREAT BRITAIN |
| Soledad Garcia 10 (PC) |
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| Sarah Thomas 49 (PC) | ||
| Alejandra Gulla 27 (PC) |
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| Mel Clewlow 51 (PC) | ||
Argentina squandered their second 2-0 half-time lead in two matches as Great Britain continued their Olympic campaign against the world’s second ranked team and current Champions Trophy holders. Team GB found themselves 2-0 down at half time following a brace of penalty corners from a side with good Olympic pedigree, looking to add the elusive gold to their collection having won the silver medal in 2000 and the bronze in 2004. The USA came back from 2-0 down at half-time against ‘Las Leonas’ in the opening match on Sunday, and Team GB inflicted the same fate upon the South American side to put a real dent in their hopes of a gold medal. 32-year-old Mel Clewlow from Canterbury scored as she earned her 250th international cap in today’s game, with Leicester’s Crista Cullen, who will turn 23 next week, earning her 100th international cap. Helen Richardson, also from Leicester HC, earned her 50th Great Britain cap.
‘Las Leonas’ took the lead in the 10th minute from a penalty corner in which Claudia Burkart’s shot ricocheted off the left post, only to see it well followed up by Soledad Garcia – a veteran of the 2000 and 2004 Olympics – who had taken the set piece to begin with.
Team GB had no real opportunities of note within the first half and couldn’t make either of their penalty corners in the 17th and 18th minutes count, the second of which saw Cullen’s strike easily saved by Paola Vukojicic.
Argentina increased their lead to 2-0 on the 27th minute when Noel Barrionuevo feigned to shoot and Burkart’s shot was deflected into the back of the net over Storry’s stick by Alejandra Gulla.
Two minutes into the second half, Storry did well to deny Argentina a third and then at the other end Team GB had a great opportunity when a reverse stick shot from Sarah Thomas was saved by Vukojicic who then did well to prevent Helen Richardson from making anything of the follow up.
Thomas was involved again shortly after when she drove into the circle and won a penalty corner, but the resulting routine came to nothing.
Storry was called upon in the 42nd minute to deny Gulla’s shot on goal and then again in the 44th minute when she made an excellent save to stop a reverse-stick hit from the four-times World Player of the year Luciana Aymar ‘La Maga’ (the Magician), who is often compared to Diego Maradona.
Britain began their comeback by pulling a goal back on the 49th minute at the third attempt from a penalty corner – Cullen’s first shot was saved by Vukojicic as was Clewlow’s follow up, but Richardson’s strike from the top of the circle was deflected in by a well-positioned Thomas at the left post.
Team GB were then level through another penalty corner which was well-executed by Alex Danson and converted by Clewlow with a straight strike from the top of the circle.
Two-minutes from time, Great Britain were lucky not to concede when the ball was beautifully put across the face of goal by Carla Rebecchi, but a diving Rosaria Luchetti could not get her stick on the ball to deflect into an open goal, for Britain to take a point from a tough encounter.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Danny Kerry said “Had we lost, my job (as Head Coach) would have been a lot harder in the next match, but as a squad, we can take confidence going into our next game against New Zealand.
“They play 4-4-2 which will be a change for us tactically. We beat them in Hong Kong in a warm-up match, but obviously that result doesn’t count and you can’t read a lot into it. Great Britain v New Zealand matches are always decided by the odd goal, so this could be a real hum dinger”.
When asked how she kept her side motivated despite being 2-0 down, captain Kate Walsh said “I was still positive because we still had a lot of possession and chances even though we were 2-0 down. My role is to keep the team positive throughout and to keep the spark going and I never stopped believing we could get back into the game”.
Veteran of the side Mel Clewlow earned her 250th international cap today and coach Kerry was asked for his thoughts on the milestone. “I’m delighted for Mel. We have a love-hate relationship” he joked. “She retired back in 2005 along with a number of other players who I thought had a lot left in them playing for GB and she was one of those, so I’m glad she came back. Her father died 18 months ago and I know he encouraged her to return, and I’m delighted for her that she scored on her 250th international appearance.”
MATCH STATISTICS
Shots on goal: Argentina 5, Great Britain 2
Penalty Corners: Argentina 5, Great Britain 8
PREVIOUS OLYMPIC ENCOUNTERS
21 September 1988, Seoul, Argentina 0-1 Great Britain
18 September 2000, Sydney, Argentina 1-0 Great Britain
MATCH SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
| Sunday 10 August | |||||||||||
| 0830 | 0100 | W PB | Japan | 2 | (2) | - | 1 | (1) | New Zealand | Pitch A |
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| 1030 | 0330 | W PA | China | 3 | (2) | - | 0 | (0) | Spain | Pitch A |
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| 1800 | 1100 | W PA | Australia | 5 | (1) | - | 4 | (4) | Korea | Pitch B |
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| 1830 | 1130 | W PB | Argentina | 2 | (2) | - | 2 | (1) | USA | Pitch A |
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| 2030 | 1330 | W PA | Netherlands | 6 | (2) | - | 0 | (0) | South Africa | Pitch B |
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| 2100 | 1400 | W PB | Germany | 5 | (2) | - | 1 | (1) | Great Britain | Pitch A |
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| Monday 11 August |
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| 0830 | 0100 | M PA | Germany | 4 | (1) | - | 1 | (1) | China | Pitch A |
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| 1030 | 0330 | M PB | Pakistan | 2 | (0) | - | 4 | (3) | Great Britain | Pitch A |
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| 1800 | 1100 | M PA | Korea | 1 | (1) | - | 3 | (0) | New Zealand | Pitch B |
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| 1830 | 1130 | M PB | Australia | 6 | (3) | - | 1 | (0) | Canada | Pitch A |
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| 2030 | 1330 | M PA | Spain | 4 | (2) | - | 2 | (1) | Belgium | Pitch B |
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| 2100 | 1400 | M PB | Netherlands | 5 | (2) | - | 0 | (0) | South Africa | Pitch A |
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| Tuesday 12 August |
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| 0830 | 0100 | W PB | Argentina | 2 | (2) | - | 2 | (0) | Great Britain | Pitch A |
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| 1030 | 0330 | W PA | Australia |
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| 2008-08-12
01. January
01. January
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