GB and USA draw 1 a piece in Beijing

OLYMPIC GAMES

Women’s Hockey Tournament, Monday 18 August 2008

USA 0 (0)

GREAT BRITAIN 0 (0)

Todays Fixtures

Women’s Pool A:

Korea v South Africa, 0330 BST

Nethlerlands v Spain, 1130 BST

China v Australia, 1400 BST

Women’s Pool B:

Germany v Japan, 0130 BST

GREAT BRITAIN v USA, 1100 BST

Argentina v New Zealand, 1330 BST

Great Britain survived a total of 10 USA penalty corners – seven in the first half and three in the second – and ended their final pool match 0-0 to take a point from their final pool match. The draw puts Britain level on points with second-placed Argentina, and whilst mathematically GB could still make the semi-finals, (it would mean that the world no.2 Las Leonas would need to lose by seven or more goals to New Zealand – who are propping up the rest of the table at 1330 BST), the point has secured a third placed finish and has assured Team GB of at least the sixth position overall, which would be three places above their current world ranking of ninth.

The first of the USA’s penalty corners came on the 8^th minute but they were denied by the in-form Beth Storry and a minute later, their second penalty corner somehow stayed out of the net as Angela Loy, hanging by the post, couldn’t control the loose ball and was quickly surrounded by British defenders.

The last of their first-half penalty corners came with 30 seconds left on the clock, but the shot was deflected high over the bar.

The USA took only five second-half minutes to earn their eighth penalty corner, but Storry was equal to the shot and deflected it over the bar.

In the 52^nd minute, Chloe Rogers stole the ball in midfield and put a long ball into the circle, but there was no-one there to take a shot.

The woodwork denied the USA from a 54^th minute penalty corner when Angela Loy’s shot hit the post and the ball was somehow scrambled off the line to safety. A minute later, Rachel Walker and Charlotte Craddock combined well down the left, but the attack petered out when Craddock was stopped by Kelly Doton.

Some great play from Alex Danson down the right in the 59^th minute ended with a cross, but found no-one waiting to tap home.

Great Britain earned the first of just two penalty corners with five minutes left on the clock, but Kate Walsh’s shot was just wide of the mark and the USA were quick to mount a counter-attack from which they won their final penalty corner, but Storry made a double save, getting down well for the first shot and clearing the rebound attempt to safety to deny America yet again.

With just one minute left on the clock, Great Britain created a number of opportunities, and as the seconds counted down, earned a last-gasp penalty corner, but there was to be no last minute reprieve and after a number of attempts, the USA earned possession and cleared the ball out of the circle to finish 0-0.

Quotes to follow.

PREVIOUS OLYMPIC ENCOUNTERS

25 September 1988, Seoul, Great Britain 2 – 2 USA

23 July 1996, Atlanta, Great Britain 1 – 0 USA