Australia was defeated by Spain this evening in the World Cup final. Final score Spain 1 - Australia 0. Australia was certainly not disgraced and the low score line indicates the tight tussle with Spain for the whole game.
Australia's performance at this year's world championships have certainly turned a few heads.
The game against Spain was a real tug a war of a match with end to end hockey, it was certainly worthy of being the curtain raiser to the World Championship final.
As expected, it was a game where possession was the key with the first ten minutes being crucial for both teams. Spain was being given too many opportunities early in the game which included two power plays but they were unable to convert. Opportunities in the first half to Australia were very few, but as expected, the Australian players gave nothing to the Spaniards and just kept coming each time they gained possession. Australia had a couple of chances in the first half but was not able to convert.
Near the end of the first half, Spain scored a goal from point which gave them a lead at half time.
Australia re-grouped at half time and knew that they had to ignite that famous Aussie fighting spirit if they were to have any chance of equalizing in the second half.
The second half continued with the way of the first with no team giving an inch. Australia had its opportunities. Australia got a chance to score with a 4 minute power play but they almost conceded a goal themselves. Despite the man advantage, Australia's power play teams could not convert.
As the game closed to its end, the Spaniards controlled the puck extremely well making Australia come to them. Time was running out but a turnover saw Australia launch an attack and with a shot taken and then a flurry of sticks in and around the Spanish goal keeper, it appeared that Australia had scored. In fact, the goal was awarded but then withdrawn. The Australian players were obviously annoyed but with the explanation given, the score remained unchanged with Spain still leading one - zero.
Australia re-grouped and continued to try and score the equalizing goal. With two minutes remaining, Australia won a faceoff and pulled its goal keeper. Australia set up and were working for the one shot that would draw the match before the end of normal time.
The shot was taken but was deflected and Spain skated down the rink with a two on one but in what was an incredible blunder on the part of the two Spaniards, (who obviously took the situation too lightly and expected to score with the open net), they missed the net and Australia pounced sending the puck back up the rink with some eight seconds remaining. With less than two seconds remaining Australia had their final opportunity but the shot from point sailed over the cross bar.
Final score Spain 1 - Australia 0
FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA'S PERFORMANCE AT THE 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
· For the first time ever, Australia progressed to the medal rounds at a World Championship event
· Finished with a silver medal in the World Cup
· Played 7 games in 6 days
· Highest points scorer after round robin, - Dean Dunstan
· Best Goalie after round robin - Michael Smart
· After the preliminary rounds, Australia had the least number of goals scored upon them
· After the preliminary rounds, Australia had the second highest goals for - only 2 behind Germany who had the highest.
· Australia missed out by one goal in finishing top of pool C and progressing to the quarter finals of the world championships.