Women`s Qualifying Tournament for XXVIII Olympic Games, Auckland FIH (www.worldhockey.org) LIVE COMMENTARY: Game 18: USA v ESP 24 March 2004 Start Time: 14:00

3	USA
	Kristen McCann (FG) 15:28 Tracey Fuchs (FG) 20:09 April Fronzoni (FG) 57:54
0	ESP
Final Score - USA 3 ESP 0

Time Commentary 70:00 Full time. A win that has little effect on proceedings other than leaving ESP at second and USA as third place for Pool B. USA will also gain confidence by beating their more fancied opponent so easily. PC count: USA 1 ESP 7. Field shots: USA 7 ESP 2. 68:26 Jelley and Lingo have been impenetrable for the USA today and deserve full credit for this win. 67:30 USA into attack as a unit for the first time in many, many minutes. They have the game won now as ESP struggle to clear into attack. 66:13 Its still all ESP although they do not even look like being able to break into their circle. USA defence is resolute. ESP need corners if they are to score. 63:59 Time running out for ESP despite their field dominance of this half. They are up against a wall of USA players at every turn. 63:18 ESP deep in attack. All 11 USA players in the defensive circle. 60:30 ESP miss the trap at the top of the circle and USA regain possession. ESP coach Pablo Usoz starting to become very animated in the dugout. He is clearly unhappy with the way his team is playing. 59:45 ESP push into attack after the restart and they earn their 7th corner. 57:54 Goal Some terrible defence by ESP leads to Fronzoni`s goal by the USA. ESP allowed the USA to run through the middle of the field with lazy and soft tackles being applied which gave the USA a 3 on 1 onto Rosa (ESP GK). Fronzoni finished the goal after receiving the last pass. Very much a goal against the run of play. 56:42 Its still ESP in attack, although no goal shots and very limited circle penetrations. USA defence playing very well and look unflustered. 51:48 ESP holding the ball in attack for long periods now although the USA occassionaly rebound into attack. ESP defence pressing hard and not allowing the USA any space. 49:58 ESP slap shot seems to have come off a USA foot although not blown by the umpire. USA press into attack despite the pleas from the ESP forwards. 49:09 ESP hold the ball after the missed chance and they earn their 6th corner. Danger here for USA. 48:32 ESP miss yet another chance with a mis-hit shot from close range gives Storrar a chance to save. 47:11 ESP have pushed into attack and they are looking very dangerous. Twice in the last minute they have almost scored although the final pass has just been off the mark. 44:56 USA have held the ball in their attack after the flurry of ESP corners. Some bad lapses of concentration by ESP in deep defence is keeping them pinned at present. 42:10 The hard hit is saved by Storrar with her standing. The ball looked to have come off a USA player`s body as they clear. ESP complain to no avail. USA rebound into attack. 41:12 The variation to the right pst almost goes in but saved by Storrar. Another ESP corner, their 5th. 40:33 The corner hhit gets trapped in Storrar`s gear. After some deliberation between the umpires, another corner is blown. 39:32 ESP still in attack. They earn their 3rd corner after USA lift the ball in their circle. 36:47 2nd half is underway. ESP into attack early. I suspect we`ll see an increased effort from ESP this half, so USA will be likely to comeout hard and try to score early. 35:00 Half time. A tough match with USA extremely efficient with their chances and ruthless in defence. A hard game to commentate given both teams play a heavy emphasis on defence and marking, leading to limited amounts of free flowing hockey. PC count: USA 1 ESP 2. Field shots: USA 3 ESP 0. 34:19 An even game continues for both teams with attacks at both ends of the ground. USA very disciplined in their press which is making life hard for ESP. 32:00 The USA hit is saved by the ESP runner and they regain possession on the ball. 31:06 USA earn their 1st corner for the game from a ESP foot. 26:32 ESP have pushed the game back into their half now with the USA now finding it hard to cross their 25 yard line in attack. 23:36 USA on the attack after the resstart. ESP struggling to move into attack with the USA zone press working effectively in the middle of the field. 20:09 Goal Fuchs scrambles a goal after the ball goes under Rosa (ESP GK) after a USA shot from the top of the circle. USA very efficient with their chances. 2 field goal shots, 2 goals. 19:25 USA with better field position in the last 5 mins as ESP only occassionally pass their half line. Camon dangerous for ESP, but the USA have her closely checked. 17:11 The variation left is mis-hit and USA hit a free hit after a ESP stick check. USA hit long into attack. 16:44 The ever dangerous Camon breaks into the circle for ESP and she earns their 2nd corner from a USA stick check. 15:28 Goal USA open the scoring with an attack down the right and shot by Barber. McCann gets her stick onto the ball and deflects into the net. USA 1-0. 14:59 A messy game at the moment with both teams playing a tough, physical marking game in the midfield. Runs into attack are few and far between for both teams. 12:25 The shot is deflected by the USA runner. ESP ball from the sideline. 11:50 ESP win their first corner after attacking down the right. USA foot. 10:20 USA press into attack for the first time in 3 mins. They have the ball on top of their circle. 07:36 An even start to the game with USA and ESP having 1 entry into their circle. ESP with better field position for the first 5 mins however with the ball mainly in their attacking half. 01:40 A nothing game for ESP, and a game of slight importance for the USA. A win, draw or loss by less than 4 goals will see USA stay at 3rd place and thus an `easier` game in the playoffs. The tone and pace of the game will depend on ESP. They are already resting some key players.