Day Two Recap of FIH Champions Challenge 2: Hockey News
On May 8, a set of four more matches concluded at the FIH Champions Challenge 2 for women's hockey. The event is being conducted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Vienna, Austria from May 7 and will get wrap on May 15.
The first match of the day was played between Russia and Belgium from Pool B in which Belgium whitewashed Russia by 4-0.
In the first half, the opening goal was scored by Anouk Raes from Belgium in the 23rd minute, inaugurating the scores at 1-0. Later, no more score additions were made until half-time.
The first 25-minute of the second half remained score-less. However, in the 60thminute Belgium came into action to overpower the Russian defence and managed to net three goals. One of these goals was as a result of penalty corner in the last minute,
closing the scores at 4-0. This was Russia’s second game of the eight-nation event and lost both of them.
The second match of the day was a head-to-head clash between Belarus and Malaysia. Like the last win over Russia by 4-3, Belarus sealed their second win at the Champions Challenge 2 against Malaysia.
The first half of the game was more like a see-saw battle with the tables turning on either side in every ticking minute.
In the first 16 minutes, the Malaysian women led by 2-0 scores over Belarus. However, it was a matter of a four-minute-period that the team-in-trail went up by a score at 3-2 by delivering three shots one after the other. Yuliya Mikheichyk lit the lamp twice
for Belarus.
This deficit was levelled by Malaysia through a penalty-corner, prior to the half-time and the score was tied at 3-3.
In the second half, Belarus dominated the field and scored two straight goals before the 51st minute mark, extending their lead to 5-3. However, Malaysian responded back with yet another penalty-corner goal in the 64th minute, reducing
their trail to 4-5.
Later, the match concluded with no more additions to score-board in favour of Belarus by a 5-4 score win.
The third match of the day was a tough competition between Canada and Chile. Canada won their second consecutive victory by a one-goal lead, 1-0.
Canada's Kate Gillis scored the first and only goal in just three minutes into the second half. The 19th ranked team made two perfect wins already in the tournament whereas Chile, the 16th ranked holds one game win and one game loss
until now.
The last game of the day was played between Austria and Italy, which was a one-sided affair for the Italian women at 4-1 over the host.
With just 22 minutes into first half, Italy sealed three goals at 3-0 over the Austrian team. The beginning two of these goals resulted out of penalty-corners. Italy dominated the game throughout. However, Austria’s Alexandera Sandner managed to open a score
for her team at 3-1 before half-break.
In the second half, the Italian team reduced their attacks with just one more score in the 64th minute as a result of a penalty corner award, closing the match with a 4-1victory over Austria.
Another set of four matches will be played today, May 10.
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