ACOG - News - IBM

Olympic Hockey Recaps: 31 July (Day 12)

Semifinal #1

AUS vs. ESP

Spain Nips Australia, Heads to Gold-Medal Match

Spanish goalkeeper Ramon JUFRESA was once again stellar in goal, and Jaime AMAT and Juan ESCARRE scored to lead Spain to a 2-1 men's hockey semifinal victory over Australia Wednesday night at Morris Brown College. AMAT's penalty corner goal in the 45th minute broke a scoreless tie, and ESCARRE added a penalty stroke goal in the 54th minute. Australia's lone score of the game came on a penalty corner play by Paul GAUDOIN in the 63rd minute. Spain, 5-1 in Olympic Games action and the winner of Pool A, advances to the gold-medal game, while Australia, now 3-2-1, will play for the bronze. Both games are slated for Friday night.

Final Score: ESP 2, AUS 1

See story.

"We didn't achieve what we came here to achieve," said Australia coach Frank MURRAY. "We never played as well as I would have liked. But all the games in this tournament have been dire struggles."


Semifinal #2

GER vs. NED

Dutch Down Germans, Prepare to Meet Spanish For Gold Medal

Taco van den HONERT provided all of the offense that the Netherlands would need, scoring three times to give the Dutch an emotional 3-1 win over Germany in the final men's hockey semifinal match on Wednesday night. The World Cup's leading scorer with 11 goals, VAN DEN HONERT had been kept in check until recent games. After not scoring a goal in the first two matches, he has now logged seven goals in the last four games. The Netherlands now meets Spain in the gold-medal game, while Germany, the gold medalist in Barcelona, faces Australia for the bronze. Both games are slated for Friday night.

Final Score: NED 3, GER 1


Men's Hockey Classification Match

RSA vs. USA

South Africa Wins First-Ever Olympic Hockey Match With 3-0 Verdict

Gregory NICOL scored in the first half, and William FULTON and Craig FULTON added second-half goals as South Africa recorded its first-ever men's hockey victory in the Olympic Games with a 3-0 triumph over the United States in classification action on Wednesday. The United States, which attempted just three shots on goal during the game, suffered its fourth shutout in six matches at the Olympic Games. With the win, South Africa upped its record to 1-2-3 and will now play Argentina for 9th place. The United States fell to 0-6 and will battle Malaysia for 11th place. Both games are scheduled for Thursday.

Final Score: RSA 3, USA 0.

"I'm proud to be an American and an Olympian," said Marq MELLOR of the United States. "Winning a medal is secondary to those two things."


Men's Hockey Classification Match

ARG vs. MAS

Argentina Edges Malaysia in Shootout

Argentina and Malaysia tied 4-4 in regulation, but Argentina outscored Malaysia 3-0 in a shootout to advance to the 9th-place game. Carlos RETEGUI scored twice for Argentina in regulation, and added a shootout goal, while Jorge LOMBI scored the game-tying goal with just :53 remaining in the match and also scored in the shootout. Argentina goalkeeper Pablo MOREIA was outstanding in overtime, not allowing a score. Four different players tallied goals for Malaysia, which held a 3-1 lead with 20:00 remaining in the game. Argentina, 3-3, meets South Africa tomorrow, while Malaysia, 0-4-2, will face the United States for 11th place.

Final Score: ARG 4, MAS 4 (ARG 3, MAS 0 in shootout).

"We did not have a good defensive game today," said Argentina's Alejandro DOHERTY. "Usually we put the other on the defensive early on."


Men's Hockey Classification Match

KOR vs. IND

Korea Rallies in Second Half, Downs India on Penalty Strokes

Korea rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second half to tie the game and defeated India on penalty strokes 5-3 to advance to the fifth-place game. SHIN Seok-Kyo scored twice in regulation, including the game-tying goal in the 61st minute, and added a penalty stroke goal. PARK Shin-Heum accounted for Korea's other regulation tally and ended the game with his penalty stroke. Korea, now 2-2-2, plays Pakistan in the fifth-place match. India, 2-2-2, meets Great Britain for seventh place.

Final Score: KOR 3, IND 3 (KOR 5, IND 3 in shootout).


Men's Hockey Classification Match

PAK vs. GBR

Late Score Gives Pakistan 2-1 Win Over Great Britain

Rahim KAHN scored with 5:47 remaining in the match to lift Pakistan to a 2-1 decision over Great Britain in a classification game on Wednesday. Calum GILES gave Great Britain a 1-0 lead, but Muhammad SARWAR scored to tie the game, and KAHN added the game-winner. Pakistan upped its record to 3-2-1 heading into the fifth-place match against Korea on Friday. Great Britain, now 1-2-3, takes on India in the seventh-place game on Thursday.

Final Score: PAK 2, GBR 1.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


Return to the Olympic News Menu

Select another day:
Pre July 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 1 2 3 4 Post


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.