Error ends World Cup dream

USA 2 Ireland 1

The loss was all the more painful, as American’s winning goal came courtesy of a dreadful error by inspirational Irish captain Rachel Kohler midway through the second half, at a time when the Irish were in the ascendancy.

As in the game against England, Ireland started slowly and the defence was caught flat-footed on 14 minutes, allowing Kate Barber to ghost into the circle and score with ease.

But as in the campaign opener, the concession of such an early goal seemed to spur the Irish. Claire McMahon was in stunning form on the right wing while Eimear Cregan along with Jill Orbinson, Linda Caulfield and Laura Lee all piled on the pressure in search of the equaliser.

That strike duly followed from Ireland’ first short corner as sweeper and central defender Arlene Boyles struck from the resultant set-piece on 24 minutes.

The goal lifted the Irish girls, who continued in a very positive attacking fashion for the remainder of the first period.

However it all went terribly wrong, eight minutes into the second half. Kohler, for so long the central figure of this team, wrongly decided to direct a pass across her own goal mouth and inadvertently delivered the ball to the waiting and unmarked Barber who rifled an unstoppable shot past Platt from close range. Kohler was substituted soon afterwards as the mistake clearly affected her play.

There was still plenty of time left to retrieve the situation. McMahon, Jenny Burke, Lynsey McVicker and Boyles all pushed hard for an equaliser but the USA side boasting inspirational midfielder Tracey Fuchs, and their hard working defenders Jill Reeve, Kate Kauffman, Carrie Lingo and Carla Taguente.

Irish coach Riet Kuper was naturally upset in the aftermath of the game. “We are all disappointed. We played to our full potential but when you give away a goal then it’s a lot more difficult to come back. We all sympathise with Rachel for we all know how she is feeling.”

Her sentiments were shared by Laura Lee, who added that the Irish must remain focused for the final games.

“We must not let our heads drop but pick it up and try to retrieve what we have lost,” she said.

Host nation and defending champions Australia struggled to a 1-0 victory over Spain while the Netherlands overcame a spirited Japan to open their campaign with a 2-0 win.

Hockeyroos skipper Katrina Powell finally broke the resistance of the Spaniards in the 62nd minute when she deflected a free hit from midfield by the veteran Louise Dobson past the keeper Rosa.

Australia’s coach David Bell admitted the game had not been much of a spectacle but was grateful for the victory.

“(It was) a typically dour struggle with Spain and I am pleased to have the three points from the match. We have only beaten Spain by a goal in the last three matches.”

The later match got off to a sizzling start with England and South Africa both scoring goals within the first four minutes.

England’s Helen Grant scored with a second-minute goal after working the ball one-handed from the attacking quarter line into the circle and driving past South Africa’s goalkeeper.

Stung into action, South Africa responded with Johke Koornhof diving at the right post to deflect a penalty corner. Honours were shared for the rest of the first half.

South Africa went 2-1 up through Pietie Coetzee’s free in the 55th minute but England equalised just three minutes to go with a Melanie Clewlow converted penalty corner.

IRELAND: A Platt, A Boyles, L Caulfield, L Lee, D Sixsmith, K Maybin, J Orbinson, R Kohler, C McMahon, J Burke, E Cregan.

Subs: L McVicker, K Humphreys, C O’Brien.

Pool “B” Results: US 2 (K Barber 2) Ireland 1 (A Boyles); Australia 1 Spain 0; England 2 South Africa 2; Netherlands 2 Japan 0.