Men’s EuroHockey U21 Championship (Valencia, Spain) – day 3 round-up
Max Meisel’s 58th minute strike earned Austria a memorable 2-2 draw against England to get off the mark in Pool B while the Netherlands won well over Spain to advance to the semi-finals.
The second semi-final spot from the group will therefore be decided on Wednesday when England meet the Dutch at 17.40 (CEST and Austria face Spain at 18.00.
For the red yamahas, Meisel pounced on his own rebound from a late corner to win a topsy-turvy battle in which they led and trailed.
Meisel had been instrumental in creating the opening goal, delivering the ball across from the right of the circle to Jonas Anhaus to deflect in.
Jack Stamp was credited with the equaliser when Oliver Stone picked him out on the edge of the D from where he jinked onto his backhand and shot goalward where the ball beat goalkeeper Lorenz Breitenecker.
Both sides had their chances after that with Julian Kaiser’s drag saved off the line by Michael Royden-Turner and Breitenecker made some top stops.
Ollie Bennett spectacularly put England in front in the 54th minute when a high rebound fell to him and he hit it baseball-side with vicious speed. But Austria won their sixth corner of the contest from which Meisel earned the draw.
The Dutch bounced back from an early concession to defeat Spain 4-1 to make it two wins from two.
Mario Mena whizzed a low corner into the Oranje net in the 15th minute to give the hosts a great start. Joppe Wolbert equalised in similar style early in the second quarter before the full damage was done in the third quarter.
Jan van ’t Land started that series, a volley from mid-circle from a ball breaking his way. Sander van de Putte turned in Peppe Veen’s cross from the right baseline and then Teun van Aalderen rounded the goalkeeper for a 4-1 lead which they held until the end.
The Dutch now need just a draw – or lose but avoid a bizarre goal difference turnaround – from their game against England on Wednesday. The English need a win and then need Austria to do them a favour against Spain.
Pool A also returns with Germany facing Switzerland at 9.40 (CEST) before Belgium and France battle it out at 10.00 with a semi-final spot on the line.
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