Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup: Ireland upsets USA
Ranked 16th in World Hockey, Ireland caused a flutter when it surprised seventh ranked United States of America in a pool B match of the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup in London on Saturday. Ireland won 3-1, thanks to a brace of goals by Deidre Duke. Earlier, India squandered one goal advantage to share points with defending Olympic champions and World Number two England, in another pool B game. Germany made a flying start defeating South Africa 3-1 in the opening game of the tournament. For Ireland, the win comes as a great morale booster as it takes on India in its next game on July 26. It was Deidre Duke who put Ireland ahead in the 5th minute with a brilliant goal. Shirley McCay followed it up with a neat penalty corner conversion in the 12th minute to make it 2-0 for Ireland. The US came back in the 15th minute with a penalty corner goal by Margaux Paolino. Deidre Duke completed the tally for Ireland in the 41st minute with yet another goal, Deidre Duke, who plays centre forward looks for long passes and then surprise the opponents defence with her penetration and lethal strikes. Failure of the US to mark Deidre Duke made it pay a heavy price with a defeat in the opener.
