International tournament news

WC 2010 Netherlands rout Canada

2010-3-6

The Netherlands held on to top spot in Pool A with a 6-0 win over Canada in the field hockey World Cup.
Canada kept the Dutch at bay in the first half but the Netherlands scored six times in the second.

Penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema struck twice from short corners and took his tally to six in three matches. Rogier Hofman added two field goals while Ronald Brouwer and Rob Reckers also found the net to complete the rout.
With nine points from three games, the Netherlands is now a favourite to reach the semis. Canada lost all three pool matches.
 

Germany held off a charged-up Argentina 4-3 to stay unbeaten, while New Zealand stayed in touch with the Pool A leaders by stunning South Korea 2-1 at Dhyan Chand Stadium.
 

The Netherlands have 9 points from three games, Germany 7, New Zealand 6, and South Korea 4. Argentina and Canada, yet to earn a point, have been eliminated from semifinals contention.
 

Goalkeeper Tim Jessulat blocked a barrage of shots in the last 15 minutes to deny Argentina and help Germany avoid defeat in a 16th consecutive match, a streak second only to Australia's run of 20 in World Cup history.

The end was as thrilling as the start, when Martin Zwicker slammed in a rebound after only five minutes and Argentina took only a minute to reply when Lucas Vila's reverse stick lob beat Jessulat.
 

Zwicker's second goal, off a penalty corner, broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, then Matthias Witthaus made it 3-1 but Matias Paredes deflected in a shot just before the half for Argentina to retain hope at 3-2 down.
 

Martin Haner shot in a high penalty corner for 4-2 in the 51st, and Pedro Ibarra scored five minutes later to set up an exciting finale, but in the end Germany remained unbeaten against Argentina at the World Cup.
 

New Zealand gave itself a chance to reach the semifinals for the first time with a surprise 2-1 victory over South Korea, semifinalists at the last two World Cups.
Andy Hayward's clean drag flick from the fourth-minute penalty corner put the Kiwis ahead and captain Dean Couzins beat the Korean goalkeeper Lee Myung-ho off a 22nd-minute penalty stroke for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Some strong New Zealand defending stopped South Korea from making inroads in the second half before Lee Nam-yong scored a consolation goal in the 70th.
Pool B resumes on Saturday with: Australia vs. Spain, South Africa vs. Pakistan, India vs. England.

Source Canadian Press