Both teams impressed on opening day and were looking at staking their claim on the top of pool A, as well as on qualification for the next round of the World League. Tempo was immediately fast, if only because the players wanted to warm up quickly from the cold rain drowning the pitch in San Diego. Both teams were strictly organized and structured, leaving little room for manoeuvering, and goal-keepers were not called much into action in the opening ten minutes.

Ireland were the more entrepreneurial, with Austria mostly defending and trying their chances on counter-attack. The younger Austrians were however playing with the composure of experienced veterans, calmly weathering the Irish attacks, and the Irish midfield seemed progressively at a loss to find options to approach the Austrian circle.

First penalty-corner was for Austria in the 23rd minute. They could not produce anything and Michael Watt scored for Ireland on the immediate swift counter-attack to finally open the scoring. The goal seemed to dampen the spirit of the Austrians and Ireland dominated the end of the period, reaching half-time with a tenuous but precious one-goal lead.

Ireland had a chance to increase their lead on a series of penalty-corner in the opening minute of second period but to no avail. The Irish had taken control of the proceedings but could not conclude the many chances they were creating. They got a little help from their crossbar on an Austrian penalty-corner, the ball bouncing down on the goal-line from a powerful shot before been cleared by the defense, stunned during a split second by the ball trajectory.

Ireland had to play short on a yellow card at the end of third quarter but nevertheless forced a penalty-corner in the 44th minute, well converted by Alan Sothern wrong-footing the Austrian goal-keeper with a low shot. Austria replied with a penalty-corner of their own in the opening minute of the last quarter, reducing the Irish lead to one goal and setting up an intense end of match, with the feeling that the match could still go either way.

Intensity amplified and tempered flared, leading to another Austrian penalty-corner, but David Harte in the Irish goal was up to the task on the high flick. Shane O'Donoghue rebuilt the two-goal cushion for Ireland with an opportunistic goal in the 54th minute and the Irish fans could breathe a little bit easier. Ireland earned their second win of the competition after a hard-fought match and stand alone at the top of Pool A with six points.