While Spain and Portugal easily won their game in the quarter finals, Italy and Argentina had a hard time to qualify for the semifinals.
It has been a very thrilling day at the Rink Hockey World Roller Games in Nanjing. The quarter finals of the World Championship hold a lot of emotions for the unexpected balance in some games.
For Chile-Italy and Angola-Argentina, the 50 minutes of the regular time have not been enough to determine the winner. Chile-Italy was the first game of the day and was thought to be the most balanced among the quarter finals. And that was. Italy went ahead for three times in regular times and each time Chile draw. Both teams had an opportunity to win the game with a direct free shot: Chile in the end of regular times, Italy in the end of extra time. Both teams failed and the match went to penalties where Italy scored three penalties on four, while Chile failed three times, letting Italy go to the semifinals.
Something similar happened in Argentina-Angola: the defending champion opposed to one of the two teams coming from Firs Cup groups. After few minutes of the first half, Argentina had already scored three goals. The African team didn't give up and, during the second time, recovered the gap, drawing the match when two minutes were still to play. The game went to the extra time and was decided by a goal scored by Matias Platero near the end of the second extra time.
Spain was the third semi finalist, the first one that qualifies with no need of extra time.
To say the truth, Spain-Colombia has been a quite balanced match, particularly during the first half. Colombia, which reached the quarter finals winning its Firs Cup group, scored first with Aristizabal on the consequences of a penalty. The immediate draw of Spain was scored some minutes later by Adroher. Before the end of the 1st half, Spain scored twice with its youngest player Alabart and Burgaya.
At the beginning of the 2nd half, Marin failed a direct free shot before getting suspended for 2 minutes. Colombia too failed in transforming the direct free shot. In the second half of the game, Bargallo and Casanovas closed the match with the result of 5-1 for Spain.
The last game of the day opposed Portugal and Mozambique. The victory of the Portuguese team has been quite clear. Portugal, that in the group stage was very close to be eliminated, played its best match of this Championship and reduced at the minimum the risks in this quarter final.
Tomorrow, Spain-Italy at 4.30 PM and Portugal-Argentina at 6.30 PM will be the semifinals of the 1st edition of the World Roller Game in Rink Hockey. Both the matches will be live on www.rollergames.tv.
RESULTS OF TODAY - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th
SENIOR MALE
World Championship - Longjiang Gymnasium
Quarter Finasl
Chile vs Italy 3-6 after penalties
Angola vs Argentina 3-4 after extra time
Spain vs Colombia 5-1
Mozambique vs Portugal 2-6
Firs Cup
Quarter Finasl
Germany vs Macao 29-1
USA vs France 6-12
Netherlands vs South Africa 5-2
Egypt vs Austria 5-7
Confederation Cup - Tech University Gymnasium
New Zeland vs Australia 2-5
Taipei vs Israel 3-16
India vs Japan 3-8
Classifica
Israel e India 10, Japan 6, Australia 5, Taipei 3, New Zeland 0.
SCHEDULE AND REFEREES APPOINTED FOR TOMORROW - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th
SENIOR MALE
World Championship - Longjiang Gymnasium
Semifinals 1st/4th place
16.30 CST* - Spain vs Italy - Peixoto and Guilherme (Portugal)
18.30 CST* - Portugal vs Argentina - Valverde and Garcia (Spain)
Semifinals 5th/8th place
12.30 CST* - Colombia vs Chile - Fronte and Ferrari (Italy)
14.30 CST* - Mozambique vs Angola - Costa and Fernandez (Argentina)
* live streaming on www.rollergames.tv
Firs Cup
Semifinals 1°/4° place
8.30 CST - Germany vs Austria - Insua (Argentina) and Torres (Portugal) - (Longjiang Gymnasium)
10.30 CST - Netherlands vs France - Ullrich and Ehlert (Germany) - (Longjiang Gymnasium)
Semifinals 5°/8° place
10.30 CST - Macao vs Egypt - Mayor (Spain) and Bleuzen (France) - (Tech University Gymnasium)
12.30 CST - South Africa vs USA - Grisales (Colombia) and Sosa (England) - (Tech University Gymnasium)
Confederation Cup - Tech University Gymnasium
14.30 CST - Japan vs New Zeland - Rainha and Pinto (Portugal)
16.30 CST - Australia vs Taipei - Sosa (England) and Grisales (Colombia)
18.30 CST - Israel vs India - Pinto and Rainha (Portugal)
Results, standings, live score and stats available on this page:
http://www.tinyurl.com/rollergames