Hockey World League: Australia hockey eves reach quarterfinals

Australia hockey eves scraped past South Africa by a solitary goal to march into the quarterfinals of the 2^nd women’s FIH Hockey World League semi-final round in London.

The Hockeyroos scored the match-clincher in the 43th minute through Anna Flanagan, who was earlier presented with the FIH Young Player of the Year trophy.

The 6^th ranked Australian eves, thus, topped Pool B with an unbeaten record. They had earlier thumped 15^th ranked Spain 5-0 before playing out a 1-1 draw with 4^th ranked England.

Hosts England had to finish second in Pool B after they were locked in a 1-1 draw with Spain.

Sophie Bray gave England the lead off a penalty corner before Spain evened the contest through Lola Riera Zuzarregui.

England had earlier crushed South Africa 4-1 in their first game.

South Africa had played out a 2-2 draw in another Pool B match.

World champions Argentina topped Pool A with a 4-0 romp over Italy. Lucheti Rosario gave Las Leonas the lead in the 30^th minute.

Rocio Moccia Sachez doubled the advantage in the first minute of the second half.

Gisele Juarez made it 3-0 in the 58^th minute before Rocio Moccia Sachez added another to her tally with five minutes remaining for the final hooter.

Argentina earlier made a scrappy start overcoming fighting USA 1-0 before edging China 3-2.

China had won both their games against Italy and USA by identical 2-1 margins.

Italy had got the better of USA 2-1 for their only win in the tournament.

Argentina now play 11^th ranked South Africa in the first quarterfinal.

Australia take on 10^th ranked USA in the second quarterfinal, while 8^th ranked China lock horns with 15^th ranked Spain in the third quarterfinal.

Hosts England rub shoulders with 15^th ranked Italy.

Netherlands, Germany, South Korea and New Zealand had qualified for the 2014 World Cup by finishing in the top-4 bracket. The Dutch qualified by virtue of being hosts of the marquee event.