Spain fight tooth and nail for win

26/02/2002

Spain ... 3 New Zealand ... 1
THE full moon over the National Hockey Stadium last night brought out the
werewolves in the Spanish side as they fought tooth and nail for their
second consecutive win the World Cup.
New Zealand scored first through Umesh Parag in the 10th minute, and
then held on for what looked like a match heading in their direction. But
in the dying seconds of the first half, Spain made a comeback and after
that, the Kiwis made a gallant attempt but in the end, Spain sealed six
points in the World Cup while New Zealand had nothing to show after two
matches.
The first 10 minutes were basically a hit-and-run show by both sides,
but when towering giant, Hayden Shaw 6' 5" of bulging muscles in all, took
a free hit outside of Spain's semicircle, Parag pounced on the ball and
connected it into goal.
For the rest of the first half, Spain tried every trick in the hockey
manual to equalise and were finally rewarded in the dying seconds before
the breather.
They won a penalty corner and Xavier Ribas sounded the board with a well
placed shot.
In the second half, Spain almost took the lead when a schoolboy mistake
by the Kiwi defenders gave away a penalty corner. But they were lucky
because Pol Amat, normally a deadly striker, was in one of his off days.
And when the rebound fell in his lap, he took his time to trap the ball
and with only Kiwi goalkeeper Paul Woolford to beat, Pol hit it hard into
the goalkeeper.
In the 44th minute, New Zealand won their first penalty corner of the
match but poor stopping made sure the score stayed.
Spain came back strongly in the third quarter of the match and the
elusive goal finally came off a penalty corner.
It was in the 53rd minute when Spain won their third penalty corner and
Xavier Arnau pounced on an Albert Sala dummy and flicked home.
New Zealand tried in vain for the equaliser but in the 67th minute,
Spain tightened the noose around the Kiwis with a cheeky Juan Escarre
goal.
In the last minute of the match, New Zealand won five consecutive
penalty corners but they bungled all and in the end walked into the
dressing room with no points to show from two matches.
By the way, the exciting match was watched by about 50 spectators at the
second pitch of the National Hockey Stadium.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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