Ireland picked up a second FIH Hockey World Cup qualifier win, beating Japan 2-1 in a close affair this evening in Chile.
Niamh Carey and Caoimhe Perdue gave Ireland a 2-0 break, but a late Japan goal forced the Irish to dig deep to secure their win, with victory guaranteeing them a semi-final spot in Santiago.
A tense opening quarter saw the sides trade blows, with chances falling for both, the best of which came for the Green Army from a penalty corner which was well defended. Ireland enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but much of the battling took place in the middle of the park, with few chances coming either way in the opening quarter after the initial flurry.
Japan ended the quarter with a…