An outstanding solo run and strike by Nicola Daly RSA 1-4 IRL #HWL2015 #RoadToRio @IreWomenHockey http://t.co/lohOfROiYw
— FIH (@FIH_Hockey) June 10, 2015
Ireland began their FIH Hockey World League semi finals tournament with an emphatic win over South Africa.
The highlight of the game of undoubtedly the hat-trick goal for Nicola Daly. Daly took a hard pass from the Irish defense in her stride before zig-zagging her way through the South African defence and fired a great shot into the goal sealing her hat-trick. It was a goal reminiscent of Michael Owen's wonderstrike against Argentina in France '98.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPC6Yv3BPVY
14th ranked Ireland need to finish in the top seven of the twenty teams in the semi final tournament to qualify for the Rio Olympics next year, and got off to a great start by beating 11th ranked South Africa. Ireland will now face Germany in their second game tomorrow.
Ireland are in the Valencia tournament, the first of two semi final tournaments, and finishing in the top four should see them reach the Olympics. By beating South Africa in the first game, they are set to avoid last place in their five team group which is the only team not to reach the quarter finals of the semi-final tournament.
Easy to understand right?
Picture Credit Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
