Canada Suffers Russia’s Revenge

Playing
their best hockey of the week, Russia
used a strong first half performance and a determined defensive effort to
defeat Canada
2-1 on the penultimate day of the SPAR Cup Tri-Nations women’s hockey
tournament at the Randburg Hockey Stadium on Friday.

The result
means Canada and Russia, who avenged an earlier loss to the Canadians this
week, are level on three points, while unbeaten SPAR South Africa, on nine points,
cannot by overtaken.

The home side
faces Canada
at 3pm on Saturday and while the title has been settled, it should be a keen
encounter, with both sides looking for a strong finish to the tournament.

After
looking the weakest team in the triangular tournament, Russia made a
storming start on Friday to register their first victory of the week, going 2-0
ahead and then withstanding a determined fight-back by the Canadians after the
break.

The
Russians, in fact, became a little rattled and some over-robust play saw them
reduced to nine players at one stage in the second half.

Canada,
however, were unable to capitalize on this thanks to some spirited defence by
the Russians, with goalkeeper Alexandra Nitsenko standing firm to help her team
to victory.

But Nitsenko
could do nothing about Canada’s
goal which came after a deliberate infringement as they surged upfield and saw
them being awarded a penalty flick. Andrea Rushton’s powerful flick gave the
Russian goalie no chance and it opened the way for the Canadians to get back
into the match.

Besides
occasional sorties by the Russians into the Canadian half, Canada dominated the second period,
but their efforts came to nought and they paid the penalty for several
defensive lapses in the first half.

This allowed
the Russians to score in the third minute through Svetlana Grigorieva, followed
by a fine hit from a penalty corner by Anna Matersheva in the 31st minute.