Pakistan 3 defeated Argentina 1
Goals: PAK – Rehan Butt FG 24m FG 34m, Sohail Abbas PC 40m; ARG – Mario Almada PC 51m
A pair of first half goals to Rehan Butt helped Pakistan to a 3-1 of Argentina and fifth place in the tournament.
Argentina tried to launch a late comeback after slipping three goals behind early in the second half but it wasn’t enough with Pakistan’s lead too great to overhaul.
A horror defensive error by Argentina close to their own circle gave Pakistan the opening goal.
A missed trap from a cross field pass in the last line of defence by Argentina gave Rehan Butt possession inside the circle with no defender in sight.
He carried the ball two metres inside the circle before firing a low shot past the left foot of the isolated Argentina goalkeeper.
The goal was a blow for Argentina because it changed the flow of the match after they looked the better team after threatening the Pakistan defence shortly before.
There was nothing lucky about Butt’s second goal two minutes before half time however, with Muhammad Zabair’s angled pass giving Adnan Zakir possession inside the circle on the right behind the Argentina defence.
Zakir held possession until the perfect moment when Butt led into position and deflected from close range for a 2-0 lead.
Sohai Abbas confirmed Pakistan’s victory five minutes after half time with a low drag flick into the left corner.
Argentina’s goal came from a penalty corner deflection to Mario Almada.
Spain 2 defeated Australia 2 (Spain won 5-4 after penalty strokes)
Goals: ESP – Eduard Tubau, Pol Amat; AUS – Luke Doerner PC 38m, Nathan Eglington FG 50m
Spain won the bronze medal after edging Australia in a penalty stroke shootout in a clash that was notable as much for is disappointing elements as its riveting play.
The match was an evenly-matched and tense contest with nothing separating the teams. Spain eventually triumphed 5-4 in the penalty stroke shoot out after Australia missed a chance to end the match and win the bronze medal in the first penalty of extra time, Brent Livermore´s spot flick hitting the right upright after a long time delay as the Spanish team contested the decision.
Unfortunately the home team’s second straight bronze medal at the Champions Trophy was marred by another petulant performance as they argued against almost every umpiring decision in the second half.
The second half and the first period of extra time threatened to spiral out of control as the umpires struggled to handle the emotions of the players and allowed too much abuse and questioning of their decisions.
Australia had the run of general play throughout the match but it was Spain who looked the most dangerous moving forward with the speed and precision of their counter attack finding holes in the Kookaburras’ defence especially in the first 15 minutes.
Australia goalkeeper Stephen Mowlam was exceptional throughout the match and deservedly won the man of the match award. Multiple penalty corners chances and shots form the field were all cleared and the only time he was beaten was when left stranded by his defence.
Spain were unlucky not to score in the 18th minute when Albert Sala hit the post from the left side with a reverse stick and then Mowlam was called into action to make a diving low save from Santi Freixa’s drag flick.
Australia belatedly got a chance from a penalty corner in the third minute of the second half and Luke Doerner did not waste the opportunity to give his team the lead.
A defensive error gifted Spain the equaliser less than 10 minutes later with the ball received by Eduard Tubau in mid circle for an easy conversion. A goal each was then traded before full time with Nathan Eglington’s powerful shot cancelled out by Pol Amat for Spain.
Australian midfielder Dean Butler had a great chance 40 seconds before the end of regulation time to win the match outright but his reverse stick shot slid wide of the left post.
Butler was in the action immediately after the commencement of extra time but again his shot failed to hit the target.
The match then disintegrated as both teams lost concentration.
When Australia was awarded a penalty stroke four minutes into extra time, true to form, Spain protested for minutes and swamped the umpire. Surprisingly for the home team, none of their players were issued green or yellow cards during the entire time the animated argument was taking place.
When play was allowed to resume, Brent Livermore missed the chance to win the bronze medal with his flick hitting the right post. Australia controlled the remaining period of extra time but could not break down the Spain defence.
Thankfully the match settled down thereafter and the match was forced to a dreaded penalty stroke shootout. After the first four of each team´s efforts were converted, Doerner missed for Australia to give Xavier Ribas a chance to win the match and the bronze medal.
The rematch in the first round of the BDO Hockey World Cup in September will be a must-see encounter with Spain´s two victories here in Terrassa over the world number one adding spice to a rivalry that is set to continue.
Netherlands 2 defeated Germany 1
Goals: NED – Taeke Taekema, Teun de Nooijer, GER – Timo Wess
The Netherlands claimed their record equalling eighth Champions Trophy title with a deserved 2-1 win over Germany.
The margin of victory was a fair indication of the match, with the Dutch completing an unbeaten tournament to join Australia and their opponents today at the top of the list of total Champions Trophy titles.
After a pair of penalty corners for both teams in the opening minutes, the match settled in a good rhythm with crisp skills and quick ball movement allowing play to rebound from one circle to the other.
While Taeke Taekema was denied with his first penalty corner attempt, he did not waste the chance with his second, spearing a flick through the German defence to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead.
Floris Evers went close a few minutes later with a weaving run into the circle from the left side deceiving the Germany defenders but not the goalkeeper.
The match then reached a low point with Ronald Brouwer receiving a sickening blow to the face from a reverse stick struck from close range. Fortunately Brouwer was able to walk from the pitch with the assistance of the Dutch trainers but did not return for the rest of the match.
Three minutes before the break, Teun de Nooijer´s dealt Germany´s chances a crushing blow with a brilliant individual effort. The reigning WorldHockey Player of the Year, relatively quiet for much of the tournament, burst to life with a run and shot from the top of the circle that gave none of Germany´s players any time to react.
Germany captain Timo Wess was the man to get his team back on track with a penalty corner variation expertly converted five minuets after half time.
Their confidence boosted, Germany sensed their opportunity and lifted the tempo of their played significantly. The pressed the Netherlands defence for significant periods after that but couldn´t quite convert their half chances in goals.
Tibor Weissenborn went close twice in the final 15 minutes but his shots were well covered by Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels or the last line of the Netherlands defence.
However the Netherlands kept composed at vital times inside their defensive circle and held out Germany´s final few attacking thrusts to add another trophy to their impressive cabinet.
