By Forrest Crellin
PARIS (Reuters) -Argentina defeated the United States 4-1 in their opening Pool B women’s hockey match at the Paris Olympics on Saturday with four different players on the scoresheet.
“It was really nice to open the scoring, but I think it was important for the team because that goal gives the team confidence going forward,” said Argentina captain Rocio Sanchez Moccia, who netted the first goal of the match.
However, it was not all high-octane offence for the Lionesses as they had to thwart plenty of counter-attacks from a U.S. team featuring a squad of first time Olympians.
“Coming out in the first quarter, we were a bit conservative in how we were playing,” U.S. co-captain Amanda Golini said.
“Once we were able to play a bit more free and start our attack going forward (we were) … able to create a lot more chances and get a lot more corners.
“So we are looking to play more free from the start of the next game and then deliver in the circle,” she said.
Women’s tournament favorites the Netherlands also opened their campaign impressively with a 6-2 victory over hosts France in Pool A, shaking off concerns after a recent Pro League defeat by Belgium snapped a two-year winning streak.
The enthusiasm of the crowds in the open air stands kept the players energised throughout the wet start to the tournament and well into the closing minutes of each opening match as the rain kicked up in trails behind the ball on a waterlogged pitch.
In the early evening games, a dominant men’s Germany side silenced the local crowds with an 8-2 thumping of France to give them the Pool A lead on goal difference, while a veteran India team beat New Zealand 3-2 in Pool B in a battle of the goalies.
The Netherlands beat South Africa 5-3 in their Group A opener after racking up a four-goal lead before the end of the half but struggled to apply pressure after the break and were given a scare as they conceded two more goals.
Second-ranked Britain walloped Spain 4-0 in the early Pool A game while in Pool B reigning champions Belgium won 2-0 against an Ireland team that missed qualifying for the Tokyo Games and Australia edged Argentina 1-0 in the tightest contest so far.
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Ken Ferris and Hugh Lawson)
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