Hockey World Cup 2018 highlights: England beats Ireland 4-2, enters cross-overs

Welcome to Sportstar's minute-by-minute commentary of the Hockey World Cup 2018 Pool B match of Ireland vs England.

 

England has made it easy for first-timer China to enter the cross-over stage with this win. England will face New Zealand in the cross-over match, while the Chinese will lock horns with France.

 

FULL-TIME: England 4-2 Ireland

It is a sad finish to the Green Machine's World Cup campaign as a moment of heat has cost it a place in the cross-over and thus a chance for its best finish at the World Cup.

Fourth Quarter

60' ENGLAND SCORES WITH THE FINAL SHOT! Paul Gleghorne is rightly shown a yellow card for a cynical foul on James Gall and England wins a penalty corner without a goalkeeper in the goal post. And Mark Gleghorne scores with a dragflick with the easiest of finishes.

57' Ireland throws in an eleventh outfield player with the time running out for a draw.

56' Ireland opts for a referral after England is awarded a penalty corner. But replays show that there was a stick check from an England player and the decision is overturned.

It has so far has been a clash of the equals

 

53' Another penalty corner for Ireland. But England captain George Pinner makes a good save and Chris Cargo, who is lurking at the near post, smashes the rebound into the crowd. He should have done better there.

52' That was brilliant from Ireland's captain David Harte. The veteran goalkeeper saves twice to keep out shots from Harry Martin and then Liam Ansell inside half a minute.

50' Ireland wins a penalty corner and goes for a variation. But a confusion between the trapper of the ball and the second battery sees Conor Harte miss the ball completely.

49' Alan Sothern loses his balance inside the penalty area as he asks for a foul, but the umpire plays on.

Trivia: If Ireland which is playing its third World Cup, manages to draw this match and qualify for the cross-overs, will have a chance to finish above 12th for the first time in its history.

Third Quarter

45' Chris Cargo receives a green card while Michael Darling goes almost makes it 3-3 but his backflick misses the target.

43' It has been a breathless third quarter with both sides refusing to concede an inch. Barry Middleton goes on a run on the left wing and creates a chance for Liam Ansell who has a weak shot at the goal.

38' ENGLAND SCORES! A breathtaking quarter sees a fourth goal being scored in the space of three minutes as James Gall flicks it past the experienced David Harte after receiving a pass from the deep by Liam Sanford. It's game on!

37' IRISH EQUALISE AGAIN! Shane O'Donoughe replies immediately for the Green Machine from a penalty corner as he sends his dragflick through the centre which takes a deflection from the England runner's stick and flies into the roof of the net.

37' ENGLAND SNATCHES BACK THE LEAD! What a finish that was from Laim Ansell. He asks for the ball on the wide left from the England free hit on the edge of the circle and beats the keeper with a ferocious strike into the far right corner.

35' IRELAND EQUALISES! England defence dozes off this time as Chris Cargo finishes off with the slightest of stick deflections at the near post.

33' Ireland is still looking wobbly at the back as the trapping in the fourth quarter has been not been upto the mark. Liam Ansell capitalises on one such mistake but is unable to create anything dangerous from it.

Bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, Gagan Narang arrives at the Kalinga Stadium for the #HWC2018

 

HALF-TIME: England 1-0 Ireland

 

Second Quarter

30' Alan Sothern tries to attack from the left wing but Liam Sanford is up to the task and comes up with a clean tackle on the edge of the circle to end the first half.

Well put!

 

25' MISS! Ian Sloane tries to send a through ball from the centre, but Jonathan Bell makes a mess of it and Sloane barges into the area, but flashes his shot over the crossbar.

23' Michael Hoare makes room the left side and hits a cross, but the Irish defence is alert to come up with an interception.

19' Excellent tackle by Michael Hoare to prevent Eugene Magee from breaking away on the right flank.

18' Matthew Nelson tries to get into the penalty area but England defenders swarm over the winger and win a free hit.

First Quarter

 

15' GOAL ENGLAND! David Condon opens the scoring after a brilliant run on the right side by Will Calnan results in a cut back for the 27-year old who finishes with a sweet strike on half-volley.

Trivia: Barry Middleton is the most experienced player on the pitch, playing his 428th international match in his fourth World Cup.

10' Despite winning a penalty corner early in the quarter, England is happy to sit back in its half as Ireland tries to bring out the ball from the back.

7' Ireland has its first attack at the other end but the cross over the defence is overweighed and England wins back the ball.

 

5' Liam Sanford wins a penalty corner for England. But Mark Gleghorne misses the roof of the net by an inch.

2' Liam Ansell takes a shot on the volley for England. The Irish need a draw atleast as its one goal against Australia in the opener will book it a place in the crossover on goal difference.

1' We are off for the first quarter as Ireland begins the proceedings.

 

 

STAKES OF THE CLASH: China, with two draws and a loss, is on 2 points and holds the second position in Pool B. England and Ireland need a win in order to progress to avoid a shoot-out and progress to the cross-over against France or New Zealand.

Previous World Cup meeting between the sides from United Kingdom was in 1990 World Cup in Lahore, where England beat its neighbor 2-0.