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National Team Men

From Team Manager Robin Richardson



Game 1: Thursday July 21 Canada 0 - Germany 0
(half-time: Canada 0 - Germany 0)
Penalty corners: 1st half: Canada 1 - Germany 0
2nd half: Canada 0 - Germany 4


This was a good result for Canada after arriving in Leipzig just 24 hours prior to this important first game. Canada put in a very strong defensive performance particularly across the back four players.


Germany applied some early pressure and forced two quick and good saves from Mike Mahood in the 2nd minute. Canada settled to their game and moved the ball around with authority and confidence. In the 8th minute Scott Sandison made a good end line run into the German circle and was unlucky not to get a greater reward. In the 19th minute Ravi Agnihotri make a strong and penetrating run towards the top of the German circle, he continued to look dangerous on the ball throughout the game. The game flowed back and forth with Canada looking dangerous on the counter attack. Germany created more circle penetration chances but Canada held firm. In the 28th minute, following a strong run from Mike Lee, Canada won their first penalty corner. The resulting shot went just wide.


This entire game was played in the pouring rain and a 16 Degree temperature. We heard about the 28 degrees and sunshine in B.C.!


The second half started with strong German pressure and in the 37th minute a quick reverse stick shot hit Canada's crossbar. Canada came back strongly and Mike Lee and Connor Grimes combined well in a two on two break with the final pass just going astray. In the 43rd and 46 minutes Germany were awarded two penalty corners, on both occasions Mike Mahood came off his line very fast and blocked the shots at the top of the circle. The tactic clearly unsettled the Germans' routine. In the 51st minute Germany had another short corner, this time Mike stayed back and made a good diving save to his right. Canada continued to look dangerous on the counter attack as Germany continued to apply pressure. Germany had a 4th penalty corner in the 63 rd minute but shot wide.


This was a good all round effort from Canada with particularly strong performances from Rob and Pete Short and a good first cap performance from Marian Schole who worked very hard in mid field constantly tackling and pressuring the German mid field players. We have a rest and training day today and we will watch Germany play Poland this evening.


Go Canada.


All subs played except Matt Peek. Roberts and Tupper join us on July 25th having competed in the World Indoor Games in Dusseldorf.

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