Sead Dizdarevic reports from the latest win for Team GB hockey…
GB Women’s hockey team triumphed over Japan 2-1 in the Investec Private Banking International in a hard-fought game at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, thanks to an Alex Danson second-half brace.
The first half was a cagey affair. Both teams had chances early on, and Great Britain squandered a chance to take the lead after they were awarded a penalty corner and the strike from Zoe Shipperly’s shot was saved by Japan’s keeper Sakiyo Asano.
Japan did take the lead in the 25th minute through Yukari Yamamoto after they were awarded a penalty stroke, sending GB keeper Maddie Hinch the wrong way to give Japan a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
In the third quarter of the game GB levelled in the 42nd minute through some brilliant team play which resulted in Danson rounding Sakiyo Asano and scoring the first of her two goals.
The pressure continued from the GB women going into the final quarter of the game and that pressure paid off, with two minutes of the game to go Great Britain scored through a well worked penalty corner routine was deflected in by Danson for her second of the game and victory for the host team.
Helen Richardson-Walsh received an award prior to the start of the match for receiving her 250th combined England and Great Britain cap.