Spain aim high after goal-fest

Womens Spain v Poland 10-0 (4-0)

Spain thrashed Poland to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final place at the UniBet EuroHockey Championships.

Prior to the Pool A fixture, Adrian Lock’s side knew that they would need a 10-goal swing in their favour to reach the next round.

And the 10-0 win over Poland puts them in a promising position, but they are still relying on Netherlands defeating Belgium in tonight’s fixture.

Speaking on their landslide victory, Maria Lopez said: “The whole team played great, but we achieved what we were fighting for. Getting 10 goals is not easy, so we did well.”

“It’s hard that we have to wait on the result of the Netherlands-Belgium game, but we did what we have to do.”

With Spain knowing they needed a favorable goal-swing to reach the semi-finals, they started positively and utilised a high press from the first whistle.

Lock’s side took an early lead in the third minute, with Lola Riera blasting a powerful drag-flick into the roof of the net from a penalty corner routine.

Only six minutes later, the Red Sticks spurned a standout opportunity to double their lead, as Alicia Magaz skewed a shot wide after being put through on goal by Maria Tost.

With seconds remaining in the first quarter, Polish ‘keeper Marta Kucharska was forced into action to deny Rocio Gutierrez.

Poland entered the second quarter by defending in the same resolute manner, but Magaz (20’) eventually found her way past Kucharska by pouncing on a rebound.

Magaz (22’) added a second just two minutes later, tapping in after a clever penalty corner routine.

And before the end of the first half, Spain completed a neat team move before Carola Salvatella (24’) applied the finish.

The Red Sticks continued their strong momentum in the second half, with Berta Bonstare flicking the ball over Kucharska, before Rocio Ybarra (31’) poked the ball home.

Poland marked the start of the third quarter by making a goalkeeper change, but it didn’t change their fortunes, as shortly after Riera (34’) scored fired a drag-flick shot into the net.

Just a minute later, substitute goalkeeper Dominika Nowicka conceded another, with Carlota Petchame (35’) slotting in at the near post.

Spain extended their lead by adding two goals in two minutes. Ybarra (37’) fired into an open goal, before Salvatella (38’) grabbed her second goal of the game.

Riera sealed a hatrick of penalty corners goals in the 41st minute, but soon after, Poland came close to grabbing one back through Joanna Wieloch – only to be denied by a goal line clearance.

Poland looked more composed in defense in the fourth quarter, and got their just rewards by keeping Spain at bay for the final 15 minutes.

On finishing bottom of Pool A, Poland’s Monika Polewczak said: “I’m really disappointed. We have to improve in the classification games. As the games go on, we have to prove that we can really play hockey.

“Before the game we had a lot of tactics, but on the field we didn’t put them into practice. We played too much as individuals instead of sticking to a plan.”