Professional League: Spain Stun Australia With 4-2 Victory

Spain prevail over Kookaburras in FIH Professional League

It was a case of full ‘Marcs’ as a brace to Marc Reyne and a late winner to Marc Miralles secured Spain a 4-2 defeat of the Kookaburras of their FIH Professional League match in Hobart.

On an evening when Cairns native Jayden Atkinson grew to become the 437th participant to characterize the Kookaburras, it was to not be for the hosts regardless of the most effective efforts of goalkeeper Johan Durst and defensive teammates Jake Harvie and Jeremy Hayward.

An early sighter on the tomahawk from Blake Govers confirmed promising early indicators but it surely was Spain who went forward within the eleventh minute, changing with their fourth penalty nook from a breakdown that landed with Reyne on the again submit. 

The quarter ended with Lachlan Sharp incomes a set piece alternative for Hayward earlier than Jack Welch fired an effort excessive on his reverse stick.

After failing to transform one other set piece early within the second time period, Spain put themselves within the driving seat when Reyne scored his second from in-front of the aim mouth.

The aim fired the Kookaburras into motion and hometown hero Josh Beltz broke the Spanish defence open with a driving run and help for Govers to the touch house within the twenty first minute to make it 2-1.

However simply because the Kookaburras had labored themselves again into the competition, Spain reinstated their two-goal cushion when Jose Basterra fired house on his reverse after Durst had saved brilliantly from Bruno Font.

The Kookaburras sought to overview the choice believing the shot was taken from the again of Basterra’s stick, however the video umpire couldn’t present definitive recommendation and the aim stood.

Craig Marais pegged the deficit again early within the third quarter, scoring his first worldwide aim in simply his seventh look to arrange an exciting remaining stanza.

With Harvie and Durst persevering with their brilliance on the again, the Kookaburras loved lengthy intervals of possession and thrust numbers ahead seeking penetration.

However a yellow card to Sharp late on took the sting out of their hopes of a fightback, with Miralles making use of the icing on Spain’s cake from a late penalty nook, seconds after Durst had been withdrawn as Australia chased a consequence.

Whereas dissatisfied on the remaining consequence, Atkinson stated it was a thrill to expire for the Kookaburras for the primary time.

“It was every part I dreamed of. The tempo and depth was what I anticipated and a bit extra…sadly we didn’t get the consequence on the night time, however hopefully we will use the remainder day to take a look at how we will get higher and beat Argentina on Friday.”

“We had quite a lot of alternatives in our attacking half…we have been holding the ball properly however struggling to get by means of Spain’s flooding defence on the again. We’ll overview the sport and look to enhance.”

The Kookaburras have a relaxation day tomorrow earlier than returning on Friday to tackle Argentina at 5pm AEDT. 

Match Particulars
Kookaburras 2 (Govers 21’, Marais 42’)
Spain 4 (Reyne 11’/19’, Basterra 25’, Miralles 59’)
@ Tasmanian Hockey Centre

Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 6.Matthew Dawson, 8.Johan Durst (gk), 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Jayden Atkinson, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 19.Craig Marais, 20.Ky Willott, 21.Jack Welch, 32.Jeremy Hayward (c)
Unused substitute: 18.Ben Rennie (gk)