Also earlier tonight over in Perth in between 19 minutes and 9km each from tonight’s Western Force v Crusaders clash at HBF Park is Game 1 of the Perth International Festival of Hockey women’s tri-series between the Hockeyroos v Japan at Perth Hockey Stadium within Curtin University. It was a tough contest to say with Hockeyroos making the most chances in attack and shot on goal while Japan have been solid as a rock at the back defensively where we didn’t have a score at all for nearly the whole time through the four quarters of play. There’s no penalty shootout nor a VAR referral if the game went quiet without a goal or equaliser just for series since the games were arranged as an extra Olympics preparation a few weeks ago.
But in the end, the Hockeyroos were relieved to escape Japan unscathed with the 1-0 win and there’s one person who made such a difference to put inside the net is forward Mariah Williams. She too have intercepted the Japanese’s play at the back under pressure while trying to settle the score as it is before Mariah smacked the ball just within the cricle from the wide left like a rocket and there goes the one and only goal with only 55 seconds left to go – how good!! Gotta say she’s a game changer like she did at the World Cup two years ago in Spain v the exact same opponent during the opening game which was quite a coincidence & sure she will do the same again that would be handy in the next upcoming games including China tomorrow. Hats off to Steph Kershaw who also made a difference linking up with the forwards to provide the best attacking opportunities including penalty corners as well even though it wasn’t easy to get the job done v the scrambled Japan backline.
And speaking of Japan, they were oh so good defensively – who were well aware and alert of the Hockeyroos’ dangerous forwards – having seen the keeper saving a few while being able to stop them in its tracks that left them frustrated without a goal for the majority. Although they were unlucky to lose the ball at their own end which led to Mariah’s late winning strike, but they would’ve liked to match the opposition attackers though when it comes to trying to get themselves towards getting shots on goal more often and that is something Japan needs to work on in their next game v China for Game 3 on Tuesday.
