Hockey World Cup 2023: Spirited Wales script upset after win over France in shoot-out

Lower-ranked Wales pulled off an upset win over France in the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Thursday.

The match ended 2-2 in the regulation time. In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Wales pipped France 2-1.

There was a fierce contest between both the teams from the word go as none of them spared an inch to the other. However, Wales upped their ante gradually and got two back-to-back penalty corners in the seventh minute, but could not convert the opportunities.

Hawker Luke opened the account for Wales through a field goal in the ninth minute.  France made amends and earned two penalty corners in the 14th minute. Then, Sellier Corentin found the equalizer for France through a scintillating field goal in the 14th minute. The match ended 1-1 after the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Sellier Corentin took the lead for France in the 20th minute. Wales were not left behind. They got three back-to-back penalty corners in the 22nd minute. The last one was converted by Furlong Gareth to help Wales get 2-2 equaliser. They went on with the momentum and created back-to-back PCs again in the 24th minute, but failed to capitalize. The first half ended with the scoreline tied at 2-2.

The third and fourth quarter saw hockey at its best with both the teams pressing hard to break the deadlock. France earned four penalty corner opportunities in last two quarters. But the defenders of Wales stood like a rock to thwart those scoring opportunities.

The match ended 2-2 in the regulation time. In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Wales scraped past Spain 2-1.