[img_assist|nid=4783|title=Day of the corner|desc=GB line up for a PC against South Africa – hockeyimages.co.uk|link=node|align=right|width=220|height=146]LONDON – August 1. The second round of Olympic Games men’s hockey pool games saw Australia carry on their winning ways with a 5-0 run-and-gun win over Spain.
A less-impressive Netherlands also kept their 100% record with a 3-1 win over Belgium thanks to two corner goals from Mink van der Weerden.
The only other team with six points is now Germany who defeated Korea 1-0 in a fast and skilful encounter – the best game of the tournament so far. And on a day when penalty corners started to assert themselves it was Christopher Zeller who scored the decisive drag-flick.India crashed to their second defeat, this time 3-1 to New Zealand who rebounded well from their first-match 2-0 loss to Korea. India now need a result against Germany on Friday to keep even slim medal hopes alive.
Great Britain’s match up with Pakistan will be another critical game on Friday – both teams are on four points after GB’s 2-2 draw with South Africa and Pakistan’s 2-0 win against Argentina.
Pakistan’s win was thanks to corner goals from Muhammad Imran and the old master himself Sohail Abbas. While the GB South Africa match featured vital corners from GB’s Ashley Jackson and SA’s Austin Smith.
