The ultimate day of pool play on the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup 2 got here to an finish in Muscat, Oman with Egypt, Poland, Scotland and United States claiming the 4 semi-final spots.
It will likely be Egypt taking up United States within the first semi-final, whereas Scotland will tackle Poland in an all-European second semi-final tie, with the matches to be performed on Saturday, 22 February, following a relaxation day tomorrow.
Egypt 2 – 2 Poland
Egypt opened the scoring within the first quarter doing what they do greatest, as they absorbed strain from Poland, gained the possession with a superb sort out and a fast counter assault set Ziad Adel one-on-one towards the keeper and he made no mistake in placing the African facet into the lead. Poland’s fixed strain lastly paid off halfway by the second quarter as Maksymilian Koperski introduced them stage from a penalty nook, with the groups heading into halftime stage at a aim apiece.
Poland lastly had the lead they have been desperately trying to find with Gracjan Jarzyński giving them the lead with a forty eighth minute area aim. Egypt ramped up the strain to search out the equaliser within the last minutes and gained a string of penalty corners within the final minute of the sport, the fifth of which led to a penalty stroke that was dispatched by Ahmed Elganaini bringing Egypt stage with lower than 20 seconds left within the sport. The draw gave Egypt the highest spot within the pool. Poland, by the tie, additionally secured their semi-final spot because the second positioned workforce in Pool A.
Maksymilian Koperski, who opened the scoring for Poland within the first half was awarded the participant of the match and stated: “It was a superb workforce efficiency however we wished to win this sport. Nevertheless, a spot within the semi-final was the primary intention, so now we have achieved that focus on.”
China 2 – 1 Chile
Regardless of each groups getting knocked out of semi-finals competition earlier than the beginning of the match, China and Chile confirmed loads of struggle of their final pool stage match. An finish to finish first half noticed loads of scoring alternatives however only one aim from Luis Valenzuela as Chile headed into the break up by a aim.
China have been again stage inside a minute into the second half, as a poor giveaway simply exterior their defensive circle by Juan Amoroso gave China a 3 on 2 alternative and Deng Jingwen made probably the most of it with a vicious shot from the highest of the circle that gave the Chilean keeper no likelihood. China accomplished the turnaround within the last quarter with Lu Yuanlin pouncing on a free ball contained in the circle and calmly pushing his shot past the keeper’s attain. China’s defence did the remainder of the work, holding agency and claiming their first win of the competitors.
Chao Jieming was awarded participant of the match for his industrious work within the midfield and stated: “Completely satisfied to get our first win of the match in a troublesome match. We didn’t begin off effectively with Chile making use of a variety of strain, however as soon as we obtained our first aim, we have been a lot better and completed off the sport effectively with the ultimate quarter aim.”
USA 2 – 3 Scotland
Scotland started a should win sport in an unbelievable trend as an extended aerial from the defence discovered Struan Walker on their lonesome contained in the American circle and the Scottish star calmly lifted the ball together with his first contact over the American keeper, and a minute later that they had doubled their lead by a Jamie Golden penalty nook aim. USA have been again stage heading into half-time nonetheless, thanks to 2 penalty nook strikes by rising star Sekayi Charasika.
A win would guarantee a semi-final spot for Scotland, given their superior aim distinction in comparison with america, and so they performed with that urgency within the second half. A powerful spell to begin the ultimate quarter lastly led to the aim the Scots have been looking for as as soon as once more it was Struan Walker who offered the products, receiving the ball contained in the circle, turning to his backhand and smashing a strong reverse shot previous the sprawling goalkeeper into the underside nook of the aim, which might be sufficient to offer them the lead, the win and a spot within the semi-final!
Struan Walker was awarded the participant of the match and talking of his targets and his workforce’s path ahead, stated: “I believe that cross from Golden (for the primary aim) was fairly spectacular. I don’t overthink my sport, so after I noticed the chance I simply took the shot over the keeper. We don’t know but who our opponents within the semi-finals shall be, so we shall be watching the subsequent sport with nice curiosity and let’s see how the remainder of the match goes.”
Austria 5 – 3 Oman
Austria wanted a 5-goal win over Oman to overhaul United States on aim distinction and qualify for the semi-final, however it was Oman who struck first from a penalty nook within the eleventh minute of the sport. Austria had loads of probabilities to attain within the first half, profitable 7 penalty corners, however have been wasteful from the set items and went into the break down a aim, requiring an enormous second half comeback to progress their Nations Cup 2 marketing campaign.
Oman as soon as once more scored first within the second half from their second penalty nook of the sport, however Austria got here roaring again scoring three targets in the direction of the tip of the third quarter to revive their possibilities of progressing to the semi-final. Needing 4 extra targets within the last quarter, Austria scored first, however an Oman counter assault a minute later lowered the deficit as soon as once more and put the semifinals past the Austrians, who added one other aim on the finish to win the tie 5-3, however completed behind Scotland and United States in third place of Pool B.
Nikolas Wellan was awarded participant of the match for his two targets and stated: “Very drained after that frantic sport. Clearly disenchanted to not qualify for the semifinal, however we’ll do our greatest within the last two classification video games and intention to win them each.”
To see the ultimate pool standings within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 – 20 February 2025
Hockey Oman Venue, Muscat, Oman
Consequence: Match 1
Egypt 2 – 2 Poland
Participant of the match: Maksymilian Koperski (POL)
Umpires: Benjamin Messerli (SUI), Hussain Al Hasani (OMA)
Consequence: Match 2
China 2 – 1 Chile
Participant of the match: Chao Jieming (CHN)
Umpires: Jayden Pearson (AUS), Clare Barwood (WAL)
Consequence: Match 3
USA 2 – 3 Scotland
Participant of the match: Struan Walker (SCO)
Umpires: Ilanggo Kanabathu (MAS), Sheena Hori (JPN)
Consequence: Match 4
Austria 5 – 3 Oman
Participant of the match: Nikolas Wellan (AUT)
Umpires: Titus Mulwa (KEN), Mohammad Ali Shahbaz (BAN)
by African Hockey Federation
