The three I teams brought fresh lease of life to Hockey World Cup 2018 as two defeated the favorites while against one the 2nd seed somehow got away with a draw. Round 1 of Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018 saw eight matches where all teams of all groups played one match each. Group B emerged as the Group of Death, Group A and Group C saw easy wins for European teams that included one upset loss for China. Group D had the most entertaining match of the tournament between the Reds and the Black Sticks. Round 1 saw 39 goals with 5 players scoring twice. Check the highlights and complete summary of Round 1 matches at Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018.
About Women’s Hockey World Cup
List of Women’s Hockey World Cups Winners
Indian Squad for Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018
2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup: Points Table
2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup: Schedule and Results
Highlights of Round 1
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Match Status: One Draw, 7 results
Biggest Wins: 7-0 Netherlands def South Korea, 6-2 Argentina def Spain
Teams with 1 win: 6
Teams with 1 draw: 2
Upsets: USA and China lost while England was held to draw vs India.
Goals Scored: 39
Quickest Goal: 1′ Van Maassakker (Netherlands)
Most Goals by a Player: 2 each by 5 players
Teams without Goal: China, South Korea
Group A
Top seed and 7-time World Cup Champion including the last one, Netherlands started the campaign with a mauling of 9th Seed South Korean team, who conceded 7 goals by half-time but after that played even. The second Asian team of the Group and 8th seed China sufferred an upset against the lowest 17th seed Italy. Both the Asian teams failed to score any goal as the group saw the most one-sided matches of the tournament in Round 1.
Group B
Both the matches of Group B saw upsets. Despite dominating overall in the match, the 2nd seed and hosts, England somehow managed to salvage a draw coming from behind against the 10th seed Indians. On the other hand two time semifinalists and 7th seeds USA were shocked by 16th seed Ireland. This group emerges as the Group of Death after first Round matches.
Group C
3rd seed Argentina and 6th seed Germany had no problem in winning their respective matches against 11th seeded, Spain and 14th seed South Africa, respectively. The Group C saw the highest number of goals scored after first round as all the four teams contributed to 12-goal tally.
Group D
5th seed Australians did not face much difficulty in overcoming the 12th seeds Japan although the scoreline 3-2 makes one believe so. Match between 4th seed New Zealand and 13th seed Belgium was the most closely contested match of the Round 1 as the Reds led 2-1 against the Black Sticks. The second quarter saw menacing attacks by Kiwis as they struck back-to-back goals to get in the lead and eventually emerging winner. The Group saw 11 goals.
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