Ireland and Russia took control of their respective pools with their second wins of the Hockey World League R2 in San Diego. The USA were the only PAHF team victorious on day 2 of the Hockey World League R2 in San Diego with a large win over Trinidad & Tobago (7-1). Canada fell to Russia in Pool B (1-2) while Chile were surprised by Italy in Pool A (1-2).


Russia vs. Canada: 2-1 (ht: 0-1)

“Sunny California” woke up in pouring rain for day 2 of the World League Round 2 in San Diego. Both Russia and Canada had solid wins on opening day and were looking at comforting their position in Pool B. Canada thought that they had scored in the 2nd minute after creating havoc in the Russian circle, but the umpire had spotted a foul.

Play was balanced but slowed down by the soaked pitch. Dave Carter in the Canadian goal was called early into action and Canada survived a series of penalty-corners, then play turned into an exchange of high balls before Canada managed to arrive close enough to the Russian goal to score, Iain Smythe having the last touch to open the score.

Canada tried to take control of tempo in the second quarter but play was often bogged down on the heavy pitch and both teams had trouble stringing their passes or developing their actions. Canada managed to still a ball from the Russian defense in the dying seconds of the half and force a penalty-corner, but the injection was slow (or slowed down by water…) and the half-time break was reached with only the one-goal lead for the North Americans.

Play opened up in the third quarter with both teams developing more attacking hockey. Canada had some sustained pressure early, however the first real scoring chance was for Russia, earning a penalty-corner after a quick counter-attack but they could not capitalize on the three successive retakes. They were more efficient a few minutes later when Nikolay Komarov surprised the Canadian defense with a quick shot from a messy situation in front of the goal, tying the score before the end of the third quarter.

Russia scored early in the fourth quarter by Alexander Palyanitsa and things suddenly looked bleak for the Canadians. They had a few narrow misses but the Russians had by now retreated into a compact defensive structure and there was little room to manoeuvre close to the circle. Canada besieged the Russian circle for the last ten minutes of the match, but they could not find an opening… until the last minute when they earned a penalty-corner. Their first attempt was wide and the repeat deflected by the runners, so Russia earned their second win of the competition and took the lead of Pool B.


USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago: 7-1 (ht: 0-1)

Just as the day before against Canada, the USA started the match at full tilt, while the Trinidadians seemed to have trouble finding their rhythm in the rainy and cold conditions. The American overwhelmingly dominated the first quarter of the match but had nothing to show on the scoreboard, even after a number of penalty-corners. Andrey Rocke in goal for Trinidad was kept busy but stood tall in the storm.

The American defense was surprised on one of the lone incursion of Trinidad in attacking territory and Shaquille Daniel gave a surprise lead to his team at the end of the first quarter. The goal suddenly changed the dynamics of the match, with the USA seemingly deflated for a while and the Trinidadians emboldened by the lead. The USA scrambled a penalty-corner, could not take advantage of a few numerical advantages for green cards, were unlucky on a number of opportunities and Trinidad & Tobago walked into the half-time break with their precious one-goal lead.

The USA attacked second period with renewed energy and immediately earned a penalty-corner, powered high in goal by William Holt to tie the score. Tempo of play increased a notch and the few spectators braving the rain were kept well entertained. The American missed a chance by a whisker after a spectacular dive at the far post, and it was finally a well-executed penalty-corner by Pat Harris that gave them the lead for the first time in the 38th minute.

Tempers started to heat up on the pitch and the umpires had to distribute a few cards (including four yellows) and there was the feeling that the game could still go either way in the final quarter of the match. It was finally a quick reversed shot by Alex Cunningham that gave a more comfortable 2-goal lead to the USA, immediately followed for good measure by a second penalty-corner goal by William Holt.

In a final flurry of attacks, the USA added two more goals by Pat Harris (completing a hat-trick) and one by Christian Linney for a final comfortable 7-1 victory that pushes them past Canada on goal difference to stand in second place of Pool B.


Chile vs. Italy: 1-2 (ht: 0-0)

Chile wanted to redeem themselves after their heavy loss to Ireland on opening day and immediately pushed forward. They had a chance on a diving deflection from Sebastián Kapsch but the Italians showed again their solid structure and weathered the storm efficiently. The match was animated and entertaining but first quarter ended scoreless.

Chile had a chance on a penalty-corner earned on the first action of second quarter but it was well defended. Play was enjoyable with chances at both ends but both sides were rushing their last pass, or last control, or shot on goal. Chilean goal-keeper Adrian Henrique and his opposite number Francesco Padovani in the Italian goal were kept busy but efficiently deflected everything coming their way and half-time was reached on a tied 0-0 score.

Chile finally took the lead in the 32nd minute by Martin Rodriguez, pouncing on a ball in the circle and propelling it high in goal from close range. Italy had a chance just after on a penalty-corner but the well positioned shot was not powerful enough to fool the goal-keeper. They however tied the score in the 40th minute by Andrea Corsi, sneaking in front of the Chilean goal-keeper to deflect a loose ball in goal.

The intensity of the match immediately picked up a notch. Both teams threw all their remaining energy in the last quarter, with Italy in finer form in the later stage of the match. Thomas Keenan slotted low a perfectly executed penalty-corner to give Italy the lead for the first time in the match in the 53rd minute, triggering much excitement on the Italian bench.  The Chileans looked disheartened by the turn of events and could never regain enough momentum to come back in match, while Italy were ecstatic with their well-deserved first win of the competition.


Austria vs. Ireland: 1-3 (ht: 0-1)

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.


Schedule for Day 3 (Tuesday March 3):
Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago
USA vs. Russia
Ireland vs. Italy
Chile vs. Austria