Hockeyroos Fade In Draw With Japan

The Age

Monday July 16, 2007

Mario Xuereb

A TIRED Hockeyroos side squandered an early lead to finish 3-3 in the third game of its six-Test series against Japan at the State Netball Hockey Centre yesterday.

Up 2-0 after nine minutes of play, the Australians failed to hold off a persistent Japanese side eager to break its losing streak against the Hockeyroos.

Japan stepped up its attack late in the first half to narrow the margin to 3-2 at half-time, before levelling the scores with just 12 minutes remaining.

Australia leads the week-long series 2-0 after winning a grinding first match 1-0 and running over the top of Japan in the second clash 3-1 on Saturday.

The Hockeyroos looked to run away with the match yesterday after charging to a 2-0 lead against an unusually loose Japanese defence.

Veteran striker Nikki Hudson opened the scoring in the seventh minute - her first goal of the series - off a pass from Megan Rivers.

The pair combined again two minutes later, with Rivers deflecting a drive off Hudson into the net.

The Australians nearly scored a third goal after Hudson, just back from injury, wove her way through a string of Japanese defenders to dish a pass to striker Teneal Attard in the face of goal. It was one of several missed opportunities.

Despite the onslaught, Japan coach Seung Jin Yoo replaced experienced goalkeeper Ikuko Okamura with debutante Yuka Yoshikawa, and Japan bounced back immediately.

Talented striker Miyuki Nakagawa narrowed the margin to 2-1 with a driving drag flick in the 13th minute.

But the Hockeyroos still looked the better team in the first half, moving the ball freely through the centre. Emily Halliday extended Australia's lead to 3-1.

Japan, which looked most confident in counter-attack, then scored off a penalty corner from Keiko Miura just before half-time to make it 3-2.

Japan came out firing in the second half, dominating forward play with heavy drives to set up scoring opportunities, while the Hockeyroos looked increasingly fatigued.

Nakagawa almost equalised after a brilliant intercept running forward from midfield, side-stepping goalkeeper Rachel Imison, who just blocked the shot.

Japan's persistence paid off when Sakae Morimoto equalised 12 minutes from full-time, ending the match in a draw.

Hockeyroos coach Frank Murray said his side's performance was "flat and tired" despite looming selections for pre-Olympic events.

"We got a couple of goals early and then we just fell in a hole, and we couldn't pick ourselves out of it," Murray said.

"I think the decision-making was off - the players were not presenting, they were not supporting each other with the ball . . . you can't play hockey like this against such a good team.

"We always thought, even at 2-0 up, that (Japan) would get back because they have that run."

The remaining three Tests will be played in South Australia this week.

DETAILS

AUSTRALIA 3

Hudson 7, Rivers 9, Halliday 25

JAPAN 3

Nakagawa 13, Miura 26, Morimoto 63

At the State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne.

? Australia leads the six-game series 2-0 after three games.

© 2007 The Age

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