Argentina and Spain to play for fifth place in Lucknow; Malaysia and New Zealand register wins on Day 10

Lucknow, 17th December 2016: Argentina and Spain were the big winners on Day 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men Lucknow 2016, seeing off their respective challenges of England and Netherlands.

Pan-American champions Argentina were in excellent form in the first of the 5^th/8^th Place play-off games, cruising to a 3-0 win over England. Following a goal-less first half, Argentina took the lead five minutes after the break thanks to a smart finish from Nicolas Acosta after a powerful run and pass down the right from Agustin Rios. Fifteen minutes later, Acosta provided a perfect pass for Ignacio Nepote, who tapped into an open goal from close range. Argentina’s captain Maico Casella completed the match scoring nine minutes from the end of the match, driving down the right and entering the circle before producing a superb effort to net one past England goalkeeper Chris Wyver.

Spain’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the second of the 5^th/8^th Place play-offs was hard earned, with Spanish captain Enrique Gonzalez impressing yet again. Spain opened the scoring in the 30^th minute when Llorenc Piera Grau slid in to force home from close range. Lucas Garcia Alcalde made it 2-0 for the Spaniards with a backhand strike. The Netherlands were much improved in the second period but still found the going tough against their European rivals. A moment of individual brilliance from Jorrit Croon in the 64^th minute pulled the Dutch back into the contest but, despite a late strike being disallowed, it was not enough to save them from defeat.

In the 9^th/10^th Place play-off, South Africa were defeated 1-4 by New Zealand, with Mac Wilcox scoring two early goals to help his team along the road to victory. Brad Read and Dylan Thomas also scored in a dominant first half performance, with Courtney Halle scoring South Africa’s only goal of the game two minutes after half time.

Austria produced a valiant fightback in their 11^th/12^th Place play-off match against Malaysia, but were ultimately denied a win in the shoot-out. Mohamad Zulhamizan and Aiman Nik Rosemi established a 2-0 lead for Malaysia after just 14 minutes, but goals either side of half time from Oliver Binder and Peter Kaltenböck levelled things up before Malaysia edged the shoot-out 2-1 to claim an 11^th place finish.

RESULTS:

5^th/8^th Place: Argentina 3 vs England 0.

5^th/8^th Place: Netherlands 1 vs Spain 2.

11^th/12^th Place: Austria 2 vs Malaysia 2. (Malaysia won 2-1 in shoot-out)

9^th/10^th Place: South Africa 1 vs New Zealand 4.