Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup: Ireland Create History, Stroke Out Spain To Enter Final
Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup: Ireland Create History, Stroke Out Spain To Enter Final Ireland created history as it stroked out Spain 3-2 in sudden death of penalty shootout to enter final of the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup in London on Saturday. After locked in 1-1 deadlock at the end of stipulated period, and 2-2 in the first round of penalty shoot out, Ireland scored from the first penalty in sudden death to win the second successive shootout of the tournament. Earlier, they had beaten India in penalty shootout in the quarter finals. Though Spain is ranked much higher than Ireland but luck sided with the latter. Elated at their success, Irish girls were all over the field, celebrating their maiden entry into the final of the World Cup. In fact, Ireland started on a confident note taking lead in the third minute following its first penalty corner. Its star performer Anna O Flanagan did not make any mistake from the award. Though Ireland got four more in the rest of the game, it could not score any more. Though Spain put up everything it had at its command, it could not break the strong defence and close marking of its opponents. Spain got the equaliser in the 39th minute when Alicia Magaz scored a brilliant field goal. Good exchanges and good attempts by both the teams in the remainder failed to produce any more goals. As the game ended in 1-1 draw, the penalty shoot out was ordered to break the tie. In the first set of five penalties, both teams got two goals each. In the subsequent sudden death, while Spain missed its first, Ireland scored to reserve its place in the gold medal match tomorrow where it will play winner of the Netherlands-Australia game. It was Gilian Pinder who scored the decisive goal in the sudden death. -PTC NEWS
