Netherlands and Spain are into the semi-final in Valencia

The Women’s Pool A continued their Pool games as the Netherlands continued to dominate with 9 points.

Match 11: Netherlands v Russia 9-0

In the first women game of the afternoon, the Netherlands faced Russia to secure a spot in the semifinals. Both had a chance to make it before the game. In the third minute, good work down the baseline from Albers led to the opening goal, from a close range by the Dutch captain Moes. Two minutes later, Dicke doubled the lead for the Netherlands. With one minute into the second quarter, a brilliant flowing move ended with a terrific finish from Dicke for her second of the game, putting the Netherlands in complete control of this game before half time.

In the third quarter, the Dutch kept playing forward and Jansen scored goal number 4 for her team from the penalty spot. A scrappy corner in the 38^th minute was eventually turned in on the reverse by Omrani to make it 5. The Dutch team added one more in the third quarter. De Baat scored goal number 7 on the rebound of a good save from the Russian goalie. In the 44^th minute, Dicke completed her hattrick and in the following minute, Van der Marel deflected just in front of the goalkeeper. The final score was 9-1.

Match 12: Ireland v Spain 0-4 

In the second game of the day, the hosts Spain were facing Ireland. Ireland needed a win today and again tomorrow to save their position in the Championship Division.

Spain started the game with a high tempo. Spain scored its first goal in the 13th minute via L Barrios, initially a penalty corner, but it was upgraded to a stroke following a chop tackle in the circle. Their second came in the 19th, a direct strike into the left corner beating Murphy in the Irish goal.

At the start of second  Ireland had a couple of chances that were just wide of the goal. Barrios was on target again in the 43rd minute, after a scramble in the Irish circle and she batted it home to put the game out of reach of the Irish.

Ireland played the final quarter without their keeper as only a win would be good enough to keep their hopes alive! They conceded a pc and it went off an Irish foot on the line, so Ireland had to defend a stroke. Murphy was subbed back on and made a fantastic save, keeping the score at 3-0.

Ireland pressed high with their extra outfielder but was caught in a counter from Spain as S Barrios scored into an empty net. Final score 0-4 and Spain claimed its semi-final slot.

Pool A