The Australian Hockeyroos have gone down to the United States of America by one goal in a disappointing performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leaving them plastered to the bottom of Group B.
The Hockeyroos were in what was close to a must-win situation if they hoped to avoid pressure in their last three matches, but will now have to win at least two of their remaining matches just to qualify, and even then face the Netherlands in a tough match.
The USA were far from dominant throughout the match, but they found a way to get the job done nonetheless, finding a way to make full use of their opportunities, something Australia just didn’t do.
Despite some good play through the mid-field for the Australians, they just didn’t finish in the circle blowing a number of penalty corner opportunities, which rings an all too familiar story for those who saw the match against Great Britain.
From an American point of view, Julia and Katie Reinprecht were absolutely fantastic running the game from the mid-field, while Kathleen Sharkey was even better at the front looking dangerous everytime she was near the action.
The Australians also struggled with a number of yellow cards, at one point being reduced to nine players with both Maddona Blyth and Mariah Wilson being forced to sit down. It didn’t help their cause, although they did score their only goal with nine on the pitch.
America’s goal came wth the first half winding down to Michelle Vittese off a penalty corner, but like Australia they have wasted some opportunities. It was completely against the run of play, which also brings back memories of how Britain opened the scoring on the first day of the Games.
The USA would then go up 2-0 with another goal from a penalty corner. Vittese missed the shot, before it went out to the left post for Caitlin Van Sinckle to find the back of the net.
The Australians would then put in their only goal through Kathryn Slattery on a fast break after a poorly taken USA penalty corner. Slattery set up the shot with it being blocked, but a nice set up from Williams saw Slattery finish it off into an open goal.
With no goals and plenty of defence played in the final quarter, Australia are now under all sorts of pressure while the USA continue their good form sitting on two wins from two games.
Score
Australia 1
United States of America 2
The Australian Hockeyroos enter what is almost a must-win match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when they take on the United States of America in their second pool match. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11pm (AEST).
Both teams were involved in low-scoring first up matches on the opening day of competition as Australia took on Great Britain, and the United States took on Argentina, with both ending 2-1.
The difference, though, was that America managed to cause a massive upset victory over what is an incredibly strong and world no. 2 ranked Argentina team, while Australia lost to the British team who are ranked seventh and really, in their first match as a complete squad, shouldn’t have challenged them.
The most frustrating thing for Australia in that first match though wasn’t just losing – but the manner in which they did so.
For the most part, they dominated but just couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities. They ended up with four penalty corners throughout the match, and they couldn’t hit one of them while Britain ran away with Australia a player down after Edwina Bone received two yellow cards.
Australia’s midfield, particularly the experience of Madonna Blythe must stand up if they are to go with the extremely talented US side, and pounce on a majority of their chances.
The USA on the other hand were playing Argentina, and they would take a huge victory, really coming from nowehere. They have been the biggest movers on the world rankings table this year, and it showed in the match against Argentina.
They were controlled, composed and all of their players seemed to be playing in tandem and sync.
This match will almost undoubtedly be decided by just how the Australian’s defend. If they get it right, as they did for most of the Britain match then it will be low scoring, otherwise things could get ugly.
Rachael Dawson will have a major role to play once again for the States after scoring against Argentina, but they will be playing without pressure having recorded an unexpected win – still every game counts to avoid the best teams from the other pools in the quarter-finals.
Prediction
The USA have been in great form leading into Rio, and proved that by recording the unexpected win over Argentina – the Australians couldn’t execute their opportunities, and while it won’t be a blowout, it will be comfortable.
USA 3 – Australia 1
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Hockeyroos second pool match at Rio from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved in the conversation below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I saw 2 games of the Hockeyroos in the Champion's Trophy in London just recently and they didn't look like a medal-winning team for the Olympics. No bite up front. Not enough very fast forwards to compete with opposition with precisely these sort of players. These results are not unexpected for me unfortunately. The Netherlands look incredibly well-organised and their passing is tight and fast.
Maggie
Guest
Maybe - but I thought it was pretty poor of Madonna Blyth to backchat the umpire (and she apparently said something pretty offensive from what was reported on the TV coverage), Australia were already one player down - Blyth's send-off made it two down. Blyth is the Australian captain - she let down her team.
Republican
Guest
.....very soft send offs as well. To be competitive with 9 players on the pitch is a credit to the fighting spirit of ours. I think we were hard done by but congrats to the USA who have improved out of sight over recent years. I hope they can go on with it.
Republican
Guest
Thats the end of our girls campaign to medal at this Olympics. It will be a similar story for our men. Australian Hockey while very good has more competition than ever before which is great for the game of Hockey.
DaniE
Roar Guru
I'm based in Asia - we have multiple channels of judo and beach volleyball right now. Darned overkill. Both the Aussie teams can't afford to have a poor tournament... They've already lost a sponsor and success will be what attracts a new one. If that is a cause of the malaise, they need to put that behind them, it is their livelihood after all.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks Dani, The game was on the main Seven - not near a TV then I take it? The 7's girls are going fantastic aren't they? Hopefully they can finish it off with the gold! Thought it was a real worry against Great Britain the other day and it just goes to show the rut has truly set in. They look a little like my Dragons in the NRL - no idea how to finish off an attacking play. It's frustrating! The Kookaburras losing to Spain this morning came as a real shock, but I managed to stream the third quarter from uni and it was just flat out ordinary. The Hockeyroos will get absolutely smashed based on tonight's performance if they have to play the Dutch. Their defence is up to scratch, but not when you can't finish any attacking plays against a strong side.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That just about wraps up the coverage for this one then - thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics as the Hockeyroos went down to the United States of America. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. The coverage doesn't end here with Rugby 7's, Basketball and Swimming all coming up throughout the course of the morning. I'll be back for Day 4 action with the Kookaburras taking on Belgium tomorrow morning, and hopefully a bit of Tennis floating around. Bye for now!
DaniE
Roar Guru
Thoughts... well I was already glum (by not having any TV coverage of this game, made worse by the fact I haven't seen any of the rugby 7s) and now I'm truly cranky. To read during your (excellent) blog the missed shots and lack of killer instinct which kind of marks the Hockeyroos of recent times is really frustrating. The Kookas have also been flat. Doesn't help having sponsorship issues on the eve of the games, I know, but they were once both such hard teams. How the Roos will go against the Alyson Annan-coached Dutch side will be interesting. Now that team is damned tough.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Australian Hockeyroos have gone down to the United States of America by one goal in a disappointing performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leaving them plastered to the bottom of Group B. The Hockeyroos were in what was close to a must-win situation if they hoped to avoid pressure in their last three matches, but will now have to win at least two of their remaining matches just to qualify, and even then face the Netherlands in a tough match. The USA were far from dominant throughout the match, but they found a way to get the job done nonetheless, finding a way to make full use of their opportunities, something Australia just didn't do. Despite some good play through the mid-field for the Australians, they just didn't finish in the circle blowing a number of penalty corner opportunities, which rings an all too familiar story for those who saw the match against Great Britain. From an American point of view, Julia and Katie Reinprecht were absolutely fantastic running the game from the mid-field, while Kathleen Sharkey was even better at the front looking dangerous everytime she was near the action. The Australians also struggled with a number of yellow cards, at one point being reduced to nine players with both Maddona Blyth and Mariah Wilson being forced to sit down. It didn't help their cause, although they did score their only goal with nine on the pitch. America’s goal came wth the first half winding down to Michelle Vittese off a penalty corner, but like Australia they have wasted some opportunities. It was completely against the run of play, which also brings back memories of how Britain opened the scoring on the first day of the Games. The USA would then go up 2-0 with another goal from a penalty corner. Vittese missed the shot, before it went out to the left post for Caitlin Van Sinckle to find the back of the net. The Australians would then put in their only goal through Kathryn Slattery on a fast break after a poorly taken USA penalty corner. Slattery set up the shot with it being blocked, but a nice set up from Williams saw Slattery finish it off into an open goal. With no goals and plenty of defence played in the final quarter, Australia are now under all sorts of pressure while the USA continue their good form sitting on two wins from two games. Score Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, a disappointing effort for the Australian's there really, just not making the most of their chances with a number of penalty corners. They have to win every game now really to qualify for the quarter-finals, with a tough match against the Netherlands if they do. Full report to come. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That's going to do us. The clock winds down and a convincing win for the States, with the Hockeyroos glued to the bottom of Group B. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final 60 seconds and play breaks down on the right before Kolojijchick slows it down on the right and the Australians tip it out. 15 seconds to go and America with a side ball. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Australia now win a corner. Williams into the circle with a very nice move, but her shot is too direct, not going across the face of goal from a sharp angle and Briggs pads it away. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Slattery with the corner and it is a big flick shot but off Brigg's glove and away it goes. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Nance to Peras and she is in the circle, off the foot and it is a penalty corner Australia. All or nothing right now. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Fantastic work in front of goals from Lynch and they are still on the attack, but the shot from Kolojijchick is wide of the goals and over the baseline. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Now Stewart with an elevated shot and it has come off Slattery's stick who was trying to lay it down into the net, but over the baseline. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Long ball down the right and it goes over the sideline. They will win possession back from the ball in though, before winning a free hit. Now out to Morgan on the wing and she looks for a cross into the circle, and it has gone in but you can only score a goal once it has been touched by an attacker in the circle so it won't count. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The United States work it down the right hand side through Witner - she can't get it into the circle but wins a corner none the less. They lose possession and Morgan goes the other way for the Hockeyroos. Australia 1 United States of America 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Australia grab possession now before losing it. America go onto the attack before Morgan goes out with it. Australia 1 United States of America 2