DIARY: MAY 22
DIARY: MAY 22
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May 22 |
Day 3 of competition. The Canadian Team made the front page of the daily issue of the "World Cup Bulletin", a glossy six pager half in English and half in Dutch, with a great action shot showing Andrew Griffiths and Patrick Burrows. The local newspaper "Utrechts Nieuwsblad" published another action shot, this one of Peter Milkovich's stick hitting Dutch player Jacques Brinkman high in the groin while Rick Roberts grins (in pain for him?) in the background. The day started with 3 women's games for pool A. Germany won a high scoring game against South Africa (4-3). South Africa scored two penalty corners, but this time not by their usual striker Pietie Coetzee, who nevertheless scored on a penalty stroke. Natasha Keller scored two field goals for Germany. Natasha certainly comes from a family with hockey blood: her grand-father (silver, 1936), her father (gold, 1972) and her brother (silver, 1988 and gold, 1992) won Olympic medals! Australia gave a great demonstration of skills, fitness and organization against China. Their second goal was textbook: a free hit quickly played in their own circle arrived in five passes to a player alone in front of the opposing goalie. Nevertheless, the crowd reserved a huge ovation for the Chinese when they scored a well-built and well-deserved goal to limit their defeat to 1-7. The Chinese players themselves were ecstatic and piled up as if they had won the final! On the men's side, the teams in pool A were all playing. Germany disposed of New Zealand 3-0 and Holland didn't leave India any chance. Final score 5-0, although the Indian journalists in the press room took comfort in the fact that it "could" have been 5-2… But the game of the day for the Canadian contingent was Canada-Korea, played
at the smaller "Frockey" stadium. It is exposed to the wind, which yesterday
was coming from the North Sea and was VERY cold.
 As expected, the encounter was very tight, the teams leaving each other little space to develop the game. Canada seemed to get a hold on the game after 20 minutes but Korea managed some strong counter attacks and created clear opportunities, including a few penalty corners saved on the line by the defense. On one of these, a swift Canadian counter attack ended with the ball in the goal but striker Andrew Griffiths had shot from outside the circle… Shortly after the start of second half (40'), Canada finally earned their first penalty corner of the tournament and Rob Short scored a goal which warmed up the Canadian fans!
The play was now getting quite rough and there was still 25 minutes to go... During a confusing phase in the Canadian circle, Keon Wook Kang found himself alone in front of Canadian goalkeeper Hari Kant and leveled the score at 1-1.
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The end of the game was very physical and it is very possible that the
Canadian were feeling the after effect of their great fight against the Dutch
Olympic Champions the night before. With 2 minutes to go,
CANADIAN CORNER !
