Ireland defeats USA by 6-2 in FIH Champions Challenge II
Peter Caruth scored lit the lamp twice, as Ireland overwhelmed USA by four goals, 6-2 in the quarter-final match of the FIH Champions Challenge II being held on July 07, 2011 in French city of Lille. The 6-2 win was adequate for the Irish team to fix an
encounter against Russia in the semi-final stage.
USA Coach, Nick Conway, while speaking to the media said that they played a competitive game against European team. He stated, “We had to start taking chances in the second half and some of those were a little careless and they [Ireland] took advantage of
our turnovers. However, we definitely played some of our best hockey against a European side in a very long time and we have to be pleased with those pieces.”
Ireland and USA entered on the field with a mission to set a place in the medal-winning stage. However, the Irish were strong enough to establish their early dominance on the field. With four minutes into match, Conor Harte converted a penalty-corner into
a successful goal and boosted the spirits of his team-mates.
Amazingly, the USA men displayed an impressive comeback and tightened their defence in the next 30 minutes. USA and Ireland both the teams fought mostly in the midfield position for the ball possession.
In the concluding minutes of the first period, the Americans found a chance to level the score, but failed to do so. Will Holt after getting a pass from Jarred Martin sent a deflection into the Irish goal, but Jackson was active to stop the shot and cleared
the ball from danger-zone. In a counter-strike, Gareth Watkins slammed a powerful shot into the net to close out the period with Ireland sitting at top, 2-0.
The real action of the match started in the second half of play. After wasting a little time by passing the ball here and there, the Irish strikers scored a couple of goals within a short span of two minutes. Joseph Brennan converted a short-corner in the
44th minute of the match, while his team-mate, Peter Caruth, notched a goal from the field in the 45th and expanded the lead up to four-nil. Chris Cargo accounted for a goal in the 51st minute of the match.
The Americans came back strong, but for a short time. Tyler Sundeen and Patrick Harris scored one goal each in the 53rd and 56th minutes by successfully converting penalty-corners and decreased the lead down to two goals. Caruth notched
his second goal in the 62nd minute and rode away into the semi-final with a 6-2 win.
Tags: