History of Spain – New Zealand: 3-4

The “Red Stick” will hold the quarter-finals

Spain conceded its first defeat in the Olympic tournament in an irregular match against New Zealand

Madrid, 25 July. (European Press) –

The Spanish field hockey team conceded its first defeat at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Sunday after losing to New Zealand (4-3) in a crazy match that complicates the ‘RedSticks’ options in the quarter-final confrontation.

Spain, ninth in the world rankings, was unable to correct the first-day tie against Argentina, and despite advancing several stages of the match, ended up succumbing to the pressure of New Zealand on the second day of the Olympic tournament.

The team led by Fred Swayze is fifth in their group and is now knocked out in the quarter-finals with three rounds before the end of the preliminary stage. A start is not the case and they will have to straighten out against India if they don’t want to say goodbye.

Spain started lower on the scoreboard, with several spinning restrictions and a few shots on the periphery goal. It was the New Zealanders who made the score 0-1 with a superb goal from Guinness, who fired the ball in with ferocious power. The ‘RedSticks’ team responded with a refusal from Quique González, but New Zealand responded again.

The game was a continuous “round trip” out of which the “visitors” came out better. Spain conceded 1-2 in an unfortunate act after which they boosted their morale based on good play, control in midfield and efficiency in the final metres. He made the third quarter believe that victory was possible.

A 2-0 lead came with two goals from Pau Quemada – from the penalty spot – and Marc Bolto put the Spanish team ahead with 6 and a half minutes to go. However, everything was ruined when New Zealand drew (3-3) when the victory looked like it would end up in the hands of Spain.

But Spain’s second game not only ended in a point distribution, it ended in defeat after Jake Smith left “Red Stick” frozen with an even more impressive blow than mortgages on their future. It will be the third match in Tokyo against India and the Swayze students cannot fail if they want to continue dreaming of the quarter-finals.

data sheet.

– Result: Spain, 3 – New Zealand, 4 (1-2, first half).

–groups.

Spain: Quico Cortés (p); Alonso, Romeo, Salles, Delas, Gonzalez, Allegri, Oliva, Leonart, Ruiz, Kimada – the first grandfather -; Sanchez, Iglesias, Beira, Pastera and Pulto.

Nueva Zealand: Hayward (pictured); Lett, Ross, Smith, Lane, Panchia, Woods, Russell, Tarrant, Findlay, McAlless -once inicial- Jenness, Inglis, Muir, Edwards y Wilson.

Objectives.

0-1, Minoto 13. Guinness.

1-1, 26th minute. Quique González.

1-2, Minoto 27, Tarrant.

2-2, 31st minute, burnt out.

3-2, 39th minute, Bolto.

3-3, Minoto 48, Russell.

3-4, Minoto 57, Smith.

Referees: Hong Zhen Lim (SIN) and Adam Kearns (AUS).

– FIELD: Hockey Stadium Oi.