Hockey WC: England scrap past Argentina 3-2 to move into semi finals

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Harpal Singh Bedi / Bhubaneswar

A tentative England survived a scare and scrapped past Olympic champion Argentina 3-2 to make become the first team to make it to the semi finals of the 14th Hockey World Cup at Kalinga stadium here on Wednesday

England who conceded the lead to their rivals in the 17th minute staged a remarkable come back to make their third successive semi final entry in this tournament.

For England Barry Middleton (27th) Will Calnan (45th) Harry Martin (49th) were the goal getters, Gonzalo Peillat (17th,48th) scored both the goals for the losers.

Argentina , bronze medallist in 2014, had themselves to blame for the defeat as they missed chances galore and got into panic mode after conceding the third goal.

The teams were levelled 1-1 till 45th minute but three goals in the last quarter changed the whole scenario. Will Calnan made it 2-1 for England ,Gonzalo Peillat made it 2-2 but a minute later Harry Msrtin struck and that turned out to be the winner

The first half turned out to be engrossing affair with both the teams after settling down attacked each other trying to take the lead. The ball moved furiously from one end to other.

 

England had more share in the first quarter and that gave them a leeway to probe the spaces in Argentina’s defence. Though initially England deliberately slowed down the pace of the game but these tactics suited the South American side.

Realizing that slow pace is not helping them, the Englishmen raised the tempo of the match and that paid dividends as they earned their first penalty corner in the 11th minute. Luke Taylor’s effort earns the team another penalty corner immediately. However the Argentina defended the second one . Of the 30 penalty corners, England has received in this tournament so far, they have been able to convert only two. They desperately need to improve in this area.

The Olympic champions made a tearaway counter but England defenders managed to thwart the attack.

England strikers found it tough to breach the crowded Argentina defence . A counter move by the Argentina fetches them their first penalty corner in the 17th minute, drag flick expert Gonzallo Peillat’s with a powerful flick beat the goal keeper George Pinner all ends up(1-0)

While Argentina players were celebrating, England strikers raced down the other end and almost equalise but David Cndon muffed a sitter.

The Argentineans became bit defensive after taking the lead and they left big gaps in the middle and the English men took advantage of that .

After keeping the possession of the ball in the centre Markr Gleghorne made a fine run down from the right flank but his powerful hit was cleared by the defenders but on rebound unmarked Barry Middleton intercepted the ball and found the space inside the circle and with powerful crack sent the ball past goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi into the Argentine cage to draw parity (1-1)

Buoyed by this equalizer, England, went on the offensive but time and again could not get past the crowded defence . Argentina adopted wait and watch tactics. They beefed up the defence and waited for an interception or a loose ball to launch a counterattack.

England striker Zachary Wallace made an opening as he moved into the Argentine circle but he was brought down in the circle which earned them back-to-back penalty corners which were not converted. Argentina almost gets away with a counter attack but could not translate that into the goal.

The last quarter turned the match in favoure of England as they scored two more as against one by Argentina