AUSTRALIA 1-0 ARGENTINA
» Match report: Australia defeat Argentina
After officially getting the ball rolling with a 6-1 win over India yesterday, Australia’s Hockeyroos are going to try and keep it that way when they come up against Argentina in their fourth pools match. Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a blog of the match, starting from 7am (AEST).
Australia’s campaign really didn’t get started the way we would have liked, and two games in we were at serious risk of fizzling out maybe even falling short of making the knockout stage – a result that would’ve been devastating given the strength of the side.
Losses to Great Britain and the USA, both on a 1-2 margin, left Australia reeling, and it wasn’t until our Hockeyroos came up against India yesterday that they clicked into gear and started to show some of their best form.
When they put it together, though, boy did they put it together. They were up 2-0 before ten minutes had passed and things only got better from there. India ultimately were lucky to score a late goal and prevent a shut-out, but the match still finished with Australia in a commanding 6-1 win.
The big win has seen Australia immediately jump up to third in our pool and another win here today would put our position in the knockout stage beyond doubt – so that’ll no doubt be the target.
The opponents: Argentina. They too share our position of only have won one of their first three matches, with their losses coming against the very same sides – to the USA 1-2, and to Great Britain 2-3.
Their sole win so far has come against Japan, where they showed very strong form to come away with a 4-0 victory.
Prediction
Now that the Hockeyroos have got things together, they’ll be hard to stop.
Australia by two goals
Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a blog of the match, starting from 7am (AEST).
Washington
Guest
Good evening, Do you know the name of the referees in this game?
Rhiannon
Guest
What did goal keeper get a card for ? Missed it watching ....
Josh
Expert
That's game - Australia win! Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Succi goes off giving Argentina no goal-keeper but an extra field player. Australia nearly put another one through but Habif stops it. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Another card for Argentina. That'll make it hard to win from here with just two and a half minutes left. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Australia again with a shot, off-target. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Australia so close to a second goal after they drag Succi out of the goal and then have a clean shot, but it's a little off-target. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Argentina go for a shot but it's way too high, never going near it. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Australia defending well. Eight minutes left in this one. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Aussies get off a shot but Succi makes an easy block. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Final quarter underway.
Josh
Expert
Two key moments in that quarter - Emily Smith gets the first goal of the match for Australia, and Rachael Lynch saves a stroke penalty to keep Australia in the lead. Can the Aussies hold out in the last quarter?
Josh
Expert
And that's the end of the third. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Great save by Succi. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Nice defense by Argentina but they send the ball high so we've got another penalty corner. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Australia with a penalty corner, no luck but it catches a foot so we're back for another. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Argentina with a penalty stroke, but Lynch gets off an excellent save to keep Australia in the lead. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Australia give away a penalty stroke, and give up their referral trying to review it. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Edwina Bone goes too early and the penalty is re-set with Australia having one less defender. Argentina get a shot off, but it's another good save from Lynch. Australia 1 Argentina 0
Josh
Expert
Argentina with a penalty corner. Australia 1 Argentina 0