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PERTH, Nov 27: Olympic champions Australia made it three wins out of three at the women’s hockey World Cup here Wednesday with a hard-earned 2-1 win over plucky Ireland in Pool B.
A spectacular backstick shot from Katrina Powell proved decisive for the Hockeyroos, who had earlier opened the scoring with a Karen Smith strike from a penalty corner.
Bell had given his team a half-time dressing down after Ireland had pulled a goal back through Jenny Burke for a 2-1 scoreline at the break.
In Wednesday’s earlier matches, Japan battled back from a goal down to upset 11th-seeded USA 2-1 in another Pool B game.
In the earlier match, Spain beat South Africa 3-1.
Spain 3 South Africa 1
USA 1 Japan 2
Australia 2 Ireland 1
Netherlands 2 England 1.
—AFP
