HOCKEY: It was a hard fought win by the hockey5s boys this afternoon out at the Youth Olympic Sports Park defeating Bangladesh 5-2.
The green and gold were under pressure for majority of the match but ran away with the win after Mackenzie Warne scored two late goals.
“We expected it to be a hard contest. They were good, physical and really quick and a few of their players were very skilful,” Warne said.
“We stayed composed and fought through the pressure.”
Bangladesh were on top for most of the opening period but the Aussie’s didn’t crack, Warne on the counter-attack securing the team’s first goal just before the break.
Warne extended the lead once more, striking the ball from just inside the oppositions half to hit the back of the net.
Alec Rasmussen showed his skill, tomahawking the ball from around 15 metres out to fly past the goal keeper and make it 3 – 0 mid way through the second stanza.
Infringements by the Aussie’s took us down to four men late in the second and Bangladesh made the most of the extra player scoring a goal either side of the break.
“It was hard with the yellow three cards against us to produce some attack but we made good work of the opportunities we had,” Warne explained.
A solid performance from goal-keeper Max Hughes frustrated the opposition fending off multiple shots to hold the lead for Australia.
Warne took his tally to four goals in the match securing two late goals to give the green and gold their first tournament win.
“A few of the goals were pretty scrappy but all-in-all I’m happy with how the game went. All the boys helped set up my goals,” the goal scoring machine said.
“We came into this game knowing what they (Bangladesh) can produce and they came out and gave it their all, but we held together as a team and got through it,” Hughes said.
Next game is against South Africa tomorrow at 16:00 (CST). It will be tough as the South Africans were in attendance this afternoon keeping a close eye on the tactics of the Australian Team.
Phillip Brent
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
