Australia, France book quaterfinal beth in Junior Hockey WC

Australia and France made the quarterfinals of the Hero FIH Junior Men's World Cup after registering contrasting victories in their respective Pool B matches today at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
While Australia blanked Spain 2-0, France rallied to eke out a laborious 3-2 win over Argentina.
Captain Daniel Beale and Dylan Wotherspoon scored the two goals for Australia.
Australia started on an attacking note from the initial whistle and were all over the Spanish circle but they somehow failed to produced desired results, even as they got a series of penalty-corners.
Spain managed to contain the Aussies and the break was reached on a goalless score.

Australia finally managed to scored in the 38th minute when Beale found the ball in a messy scramble in the circle after Spanish goalkeeper Mario Fernandez Garin stopped three shots in quick succession from close range.

Spain also had a chance on the next action on a penalty-corner but goalkeeper Andrew Butturini did a good job.
The Aussies had most of ball possession and Wotherspoon scored in the 63rd minute to give a comfortable two-goal cushion to the Kookaburras.
Spain had a desperate final surge but they failed to net the ball. With two losses in as many matches, they are already out of contention for a berth in the quarters.

In the other Pool B match, Pieter Van Straaten, Theophile Ponthieu and Jean-Laurent Kieffer scored for France, while Estanislao Perez Pesado and Gonzalo Peillat hit the board for Argentina.