Outplayed USA grab women’s title in shootout

Double Irish joy in World League play-offs

JOHANNESBURG, July 23, (AFP): A never-say-die United States team defeated Germany 3-2 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw Sunday to win a Women’s Hockey World League tournament in Johannesburg.

The Americans were outplayed for much of the title decider on an astro turf pitch at the University of the Witwatersrand and lucky to be trailing by only one goal.

But the nation ranked sixth in the world — one place above the Germans — were awarded a penalty stroke with two minutes left and Taylor West equalised.

Teenager Camilla Nobis had put Germany ahead on 38 minutes by deflecting a cross past outstanding American goalkeeper Jackie Briggs.

The teams were deadlocked at 2-2 in the shootout after four attempts each, piling pressure on the next participants, German Franzisca Hauke and American Erin Matson.

Hauke scored only for the “goal” to be disallowed because the hooter sounded to signal that the permitted eight seconds had elapsed up just before the ball crossed the line.

Teenager Matson had a chance to win the tournament and made no mistake, calmly firing past goalkeeper Lisa Schneider, who replaced Julia Ciupka for the shootout.

Meanwhile, Ireland won men’s and women’s play-offs Saturday during the penultimate day of the Hockey World League tournament on a Johannesburg campus. The men overcame New Zealand 1-0 on the astro turf pitch at the University of the Witwatersrand to finish fifth of 10 nations at the 16-day event.