Hockeyroos pound Malaysia
The Hockeyroos have won their second group match at the Commonwealth Games after
annihilating Malaysia 8-0 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre this evening.
After dealing with the reigning gold medallists India 4-2 yesterday, Australia
had little trouble countering their lowly opponents, slamming on four goals
either side of the half in a thumping triumph.
Despite the resounding scoreline in the hosts favour, several missed
opportunities prevented the Hockeyroos from sealing what could have been a much
larger victory.
In all, Australia created 37 shots at goal, while the visitors only managed
one from a penalty corner.
Defender Rebecca Saunders was the only multiple goal-scorer for home side,
while captain Nikki Hudson's stunning strike in the 28th minute was pick of the
goals.
Malaysia were never in the hunt, and even from the start, it became evident
that the 'Roos would have little trouble disposing of their lowly counterparts,
despite the plethora of early missed chances from inside the arc.
Eventually Saunders found the back of the net for Australia in the eighth
minute after squeezing the ball past the keeper following a tense scramble
in front of goal after a penalty corner.
The Hockeyroos continued to dominate, and by the 22nd minute, had already
received seven penalty corners, but had disappointingly only put away one of
them.
Nicole Arrold pushed Australia to a 2-0 lead after converting from the left
in the 23rd minute.
That was then followed by a further two goals in five minutes - Kate
Hollywood pushed the ball under the Malaysian keeper for the third, while Hudson
drove powerfully from the right and found the back of the net after creating
space.
Leading 4-0 at the break, the Hockeyroos looked to propel the damaging
scoreline further, but poor misses and sloppy possession in front of goal was
helping the Malaysian keeper's cause.
It took 12 minutes before Suzie Faulkner could find the net for the first
time in the second half for Australia, which was followed by two goals in nine
minutes through Saunders, who made good position to deflect the ball into goal
nonchalantly, and Madonna Blyth, who deflected a high ball into the net.
Angie Skirving layered the eighth echelon of icing on the cake when she
flicked the ball into the back of the net from a penalty corner for the eighth
goal in the dying minutes.
Other women's results of the day saw two Group B thumpings - New Zealand
tore apart Barbados 11-0 while England easily accounted for Canada 5-0.
South Africa also had little trouble eclipsing Nigeria 4-1 in their Group A
game.
Australia 8 (Rebecca Saunders PC 7m, FG 48m, Nicole Arrold FG 23m,
Kate Hollywood 23m, Nikki Hudson FG 28, Suzie Faulkner FG 47m, Madonna Blyth FG
56m, Angie Skirving PC 64m)
Malaysia 0
Group A match. 17/03/2006. State Netball and Hockey Centre.
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