The women’s team falls to China on penalties
MADRID, 4 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish senior men’s field hockey team defeated South Africa this Saturday (5-3) in the first of the two FIH Pro League matches that will be played this weekend at the Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, while the women’s team lost with China on penalties (1-1 and 3-4).
With their victory, the men’s team premiered the new field that will become the setting for the 2022 FIH Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands. from the penalty corner.
Marc Recasens and Marc Miralles tried their luck with their respective pitches that would not go up on the scoreboard. It was the RC Polo striker, after two consecutive direct shots, who was in charge of putting the Spanish victory on track after 13 minutes (1-0). Before the break, Gerard Clapés signed a spectacular goal after traveling 50 meters and dribbling past the rival defense to define at will (2-0).
In the third period, Max Caldas’ team continued with the same intensity and, proof of this, was the third goal scored by the ‘Redsticks’. José Basterra, after a double execution, scored after a definition from the ground (3-0, minute 36). South Africa reacted with a play by the captain, Keenan Horne, which Adrián Rafi successfully cleared.
However, a foul in the area allowed Jethro Eustice to reduce differences from the stroke (3-1, min. 42) and Taine Paton started the last quarter with a goal that added more emotion in the final moments (3-2, min. .47). However, on two occasions from the PC, they sentenced the match in favor of Spain thanks to the success of Borja Lacalle and Álvaro Iglesias.
South Africa still found time for a third goal that made it final 5-3 after 58 minutes of play. Spain led the result to add another victory in the FIH Pro League. This Sunday, also starting at 7:00 p.m., the second and final match between both national teams will arrive.
For its part, the Spanish women’s team could not beat China on the same stage in a duel that was decided in the ‘shoot out’. The Asians went ahead through Gu after two minutes, but Spain found a way to equalize thanks to a goal from Flor Teves in the 8th minute.
There were no more goals and the match was decided on penalties despite the fact that Spain carried the weight of the match and had more and better chances than its rival. In the shots, the Chinese were more successful and took the win 3-4. This Sunday, also at 9:30 p.m., second game.