European powerhouse Spain fought back in the second half against Australia but Waray emerged as 4-3 winners in a thrilling match in the first cluster of the Men’s FIH Hockey Pro League at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. It wasn’t enough to kill the kingfisher.
Blake Govers celebrated his 150th cap for Australia with an emphatic 4-3 win over Spain. The Australians dominated the first half and both goalkeepers were required to make early saves.
The Kookaburra’s eventually took the lead in the ninth minute, when Luis Calzado extended his right foot to save a drag flick, but Lachlan Sharp found the back of the net from the rebound. Around 10 minutes later, after the Spaniards had lost the ball inside their own 25-yard area, Jake Wetton scored with quick movement, and in the 25th minute, Govers added a drag-flick to make it 3-0. took the lead.
Australia could have gone further forward, but they missed two penalty corner chances in the 27th minute, one saved by Calzado and the other hitting the post. Then, in the 29th minute, Marc Miralles pulled Spain back with a straight drag flick, giving Australia a 3-1 lead at half-time.
Spain fought back in the third quarter, with debutant Nicolas Álvarez volleying between defenders for a field goal in the 36th minute, and a minute later Pol Cabre Verdiel equalized from open play. He made the decision and set up a great finish. Sharpe started an incredible period of pressure for the Australians with a 52nd minute tap-in after a series of quick passes inside the circle. Spain had to make some great saves in the next five minutes from Rafael Revilla to keep his team in the lead. hunt.
Spain gave it their all in the final two minutes and there was a brief moment of elation when they deflected a final heckler for a point, but the shot was given away after the referee ruled that the ball had entered the circle in a dangerous position. Unrecognized, the kingfisher became the natural winner.