Early Goal Separates Spain From Green Machine

Photo credit: World Sport Pics

Spain got off to an ideal start with a 3rd minute goal manufactured by Alvaro Iglesias’s pass to Enrique Gonzalez in the circle who swept the ball hard into the corner from close range. For large periods of the opening 30 minutes Ireland were camped in their opponent’s half with all the Spanish team in their own 23 defending onslaughts from Conor Harte and Shane O’Donoghue as they patiently waited for the gaps to open. O’Donoghue was slightly unlucky to not score from a penalty corner routine as Quico Cortes made a superb diving stick save which followed Ricardo Santana clearing the ball from the line moments earlier from another O’Donoghue shot. David Harte made a great save of his own from a Spanish penalty corner routine and the Irish defence were up to the 2 further Spanish PC’s to keep the game tight, with just Gonzalez’s goal separating the sides.