Hockeyroos edge out Japan to maintain unblemished record

The Hockeyroos notched their best start to an Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games, defeating host nation Japan 1-0 to claim three straight wins.

The Hockeroos sit at the top of Pool B after a hard-fought victory, Maddy Fitzpatrick’s winner ensuring a quarter final berth with two matches to play.

Hockeyroos Coach Katrina Powell, who was a member of the gold medal-winning side from Atlanta, praised her side but warned they needed to lift before their match against New Zealand after converting just once from 36 circle penetrations.

“The way the athletes have gone about it has been outstanding; their commitment, work rate and determination to be successful,” Powell said of the Olympic campaign so far.

“There is great unity behind what we are trying to do – it has been fantastic.

“We need to finish better. We had plenty of opportunities to nail down the game and close it off - we didn’t get those outcomes.

Full match report

Match Details
Japan 0
Hockeyroos 1 (M.Fitzpatrick 33’)
@ Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo

Hockeyroos: 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris, 4.Amy Lawton, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 13.Edwina Bone (c), 14.Steph Kershaw, 15.Kaitlin Nobbs, 18.Jane Claxton, 20.Karri Somerville, 21.Renee Taylor, 22.Kate Jenner, 24.Mariah Williams, 26.Emily Chalker, 27.Rachael Lynch (gk), 30.Grace Stewart, 32.Savannah Fitzpatrick