Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Womens Team Medal Matches

Mexico vs United States - Bronze Medal
A struggling trio of Mexicans went head to head against another consistent United States performance where the Americans once again found the nine early and often. A full house of nines saw the USA up 54-50 after the first end as Mexico were outside the gold rings on three shots. A single eight in the United States' fifth shot only gave them an extra two point advantage after the second end as their opponents found the bullseye but cancelled it out with a seven.

Mexico pulled themselves up to a competing level with just one eight, but this time their ten was matched by the USA leaving the scores 161-155 with one end remaining. It was too much to ask for Mexico as they returned to their inconsistent shooting. For their part the USA finished with another five nines to claim the bronze medals.

MEXICO									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	9	9	9	8	7	50		1	9	9	9	9	9	9	54
2	8	10	7	9	9	8	51		2	9	9	9	9	8	9	53
3	8	9	9	9	10	9	54		3	9	10	9	9	9	8	54
4	8	10	8	9	8	9	52		4	9	9	9	9	8	9	53
Total							207		Total							214

Korea vs Taipei
After an all North American match it was time to turn attention to the all Asian final. Korea stumbled out of the blocks with a six on the very first arrow. A seven and two eights would also score in the opening end and not even their ten could save them, leaving Taipei up 54-48 as they hit all gold except a lone seven on the final shot.

Korea pulled themselves together after that poor end and edged the Taipei archers in the second to claw back a point. Another high-scoring end from Taipei however left little doubt as to which way this match would go, Korea able to tie 55-55 with three tens but that still left them staring down a 162-157 scoreline.

Taipei extended their lead by another two points after three arrows in the final end and, obviously feeling relaxed, proceeded to end the match with a hat trick of tens becoming Olympic gold medalists.

KOREA									TAIPEI
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	6	9	8	7	10	8	48		1	9	9	10	10	9	7	54
2	9	9	10	9	8	9	54		2	9	10	8	8	9	9	53
3	8	10	8	10	9	10	55		3	8	10	9	9	10	9	55
4	8	9	8	10	9	10	54		4	10	8	9	10	10	10	57
Total							211		Total							219

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Mens Team Medal Matches

United States vs China - Bronze Medal
The first archery medal of the London 2012 Olympics was decided here and both sides displayed their own level of consistency. China scored 54 in each of the first three ends with a pair each of sevens and eights to keep them chasing their opponents. For their part the American team averaged three tens in all four ends, faltering on a few occasions themselves to land arrows outside of the gold rings to keep things close.

An even first end saw both sides land in the seven but a third ten from the United States saving them from a rogue eight shot before they took the lead at the halfway stage with nothing but gold; China scrambling to recover from back-to-back eights putting them down 111-108.

The Chinese athletes pulled one back with both teams again landing in the seven and Team USA finding another eight, 164-162. Down to the final end and both teams were on song with nothing landing outside a nine, the Americans four bullseyes giving them an extra margin to claim the Bronze medals.

UNITED STATES									CHINA
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	7	10	9	10	8	54		1	9	9	10	10	9	7	54
2	9	9	10	10	9	10	57		2	9	10	8	8	10	9	54
3	10	9	10	7	9	8	53		3	9	10	7	9	10	9	54
4	10	9	9	10	10	10	58		4	10	9	9	9	9	10	56
Total							222		Total							218

Korea vs Mexico - Gold Medal
The Gold Medal match started with Mexico digging themselves into an early hole with only one ten and a pair of eights leaving Korea ahead 56-53. The deficit remained at three points midway through the match as both teams got into their grooves; another eight however preventing Mexico from making inroads on the scoreline.

The third end and Korea looked a little tight hitting the eight twice and they now had Mexico breathing down their necks 167-166 after another solid end from them despite yet another shot outside of the golden rings. These eights would be the story of the final with two more for Mexico taking their game total to six and they compounded the problem by only hitting a single ten for the second end in the match; Korea starting with an eight of their own but quickly regaining their composure to become Olympic Gold medalists.

KOREA									MEXICO
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	10	9	10	9	9	56		1	8	9	10	9	8	9	53
2	9	10	9	9	10	10	57		2	10	10	10	8	9	10	57
3	10	8	10	9	9	8	54		3	9	8	10	9	10	10	56
4	8	10	10	9	9	10	56		4	8	9	10	8	9	9	53
Total							223		Total							219

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Mens Team Semifinals

Korea vs United States
These two teams put on a high-class semifinal with a single eight in the match on either side. This coming in the first end that resulted in Korea leading 56-55 with no less than eleven tens each out of their twenty-four arrows. The second end started out well for the USA as they shot off four consecutive bullseyes to take a one point lead with the teams tying the third end with another three tens per side.

Korea just edged the final end with the United States needing to hit a second bullseye in the fourth frame with their last arrow and send the game into a shoot-off. The great form would only stay with one side, Korea hitting nothing but gold while the Americans faltered ever so slightly placing them into the Bronze medal match.

KOREA									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	9	9	8	10	10	56		1	8	9	10	9	9	10	55
2	9	9	10	9	9	10	56		2	10	10	10	10	9	9	58
3	10	9	9	9	10	10	57		3	9	10	10	9	10	9	57
4	9	10	10	9	9	10	57		4	9	9	10	9	9	10	56
Total							226		Total							226
Shoot-Off											Shoot-Off
KOREA			USA
1	10		1	9
2	10		2	9
3	9		3	8
Total	29		Total	26

CHINA vs MEXICO
The second semifinal was another tense affair that went down to the wire despite another bad start for China that saw them score just 51 with a seven and two eights, but once again they found a way to come back with four tens in the second end tying the match after two ends 109-109.

Mexico started the penultimate end with three consecutive bullseyes but a rogue seven aided China and kept the scores level 163-163 and it was onto another nailbiting final end. China had the initiative by hitting 10-9-9 and Mexico managing 8-8-10, but another seven for the Chinese, this one coming on their final shot, opened the door for Mexico to win. Their last arrow hitting the ten and taking them to the Gold medal match against Korea.

CHINA									MEXICO
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	7	8	9	8	10	9	51		1	8	10	10	8	10	9	55
2	10	9	10	10	9	10	58		2	9	10	7	9	10	9	54
3	9	10	9	8	9	9	54		3	10	10	10	7	8	9	54
4	10	9	9	8	9	7	52		4	8	8	10	9	8	10	53
Total							215		Total							216

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Mens Team Quarterfinals

Korea vs Ukraine
Team Korea easily make their way into the semifinals after their first match of the tournament, sweeping aside Ukraine by sixteen points. The victor's lone eight came in the first end while Ukraine hit a seven for a 57-54 scoreline. After that it was all gold rings for Korea extending their lead with each end while the Ukrainians struggled to keep up thanks to half a dozen eights and another seven.

KOREA									UKRAINE
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	10	9	10	8	10	57		1	9	10	10	9	9	7	54
2	10	9	10	9	10	10	58		2	9	10	8	9	8	9	53
3	10	9	9	10	9	9	56		3	10	8	8	7	9	8	50
4	10	9	9	10	9	10	57		4	8	9	9	9	10	10	55
Total							228		Total							212

India vs United States
Korea will face the Americans after they tried to blow their four point lead going into the final end by firing off a pair of sevens, one of which was barely enough to win the match on the final shot. India had a hard time finding the bullseye with four tens throughout, three of them coming in the second end. In comparison the United States hit six in the first half of the contest and they continued to stay just ahead after three ends despite no-one scoring a maximum.

The final end came with America leading 164-160, increasing this lead to 183-178 with four arrows per side remaining. An 8-9-10 from India pulled it back within three, USA shooting 7-9-9 and needing at least a seven to finish it off which they just about managed.

INDIA									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	8	9	9	9	9	53		1	10	9	9	8	9	10	55
2	10	9	10	10	9	9	57		2	10	9	10	10	10	9	58
3	8	8	9	8	9	8	50		3	9	9	9	7	8	9	51
4	9	9	8	9	10	9	54		4	9	10	7	9	9	7	51
Total							214		Total							215

China vs Italy
A terrible start from the Chinese left them facing a 56-49 scoreline after hitting a pair of sevens and no tens. Italy then found the seven in the second end while China picked it up to reverse their fortunes with four bullseyes and tie the scores 107-107. The teams remained deadlocked heading into the final end where nerves would be tested.

China had a point lead with three arrows left but could have held a match winning advantage after shooting 10-7-10 while the Italians managed 10-8-8. Both teams only found yellow rings with their final shots but Italy held their nerve to grab an extra ten over their rivals and take the match to a shoot-off where each athlete takes one final shot.

The lone ten of China was the difference maker despite starting out on a 8-9 deficit. The second arrows turned the scores around 18-17 with both ending in the nine to put China through into the final four and the chance to play either Mexico or France.

CHINA									ITALY
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	7	7	9	8	9	49		1	9	10	10	9	9	9	56
2	10	9	10	10	9	10	58		2	7	8	8	9	9	10	51
3	9	9	10	9	9	9	55		3	9	9	9	9	9	10	55
4	10	7	10	9	9	10	55		4	10	8	8	10	9	10	55
Total							217		Total							217
Shoot-Off
CHINA			ITALY
1	8		1	9
2	10		2	8
3	9		3	9
Total	27		Total	26

Mexico vs France
Mexico could count themselves lucky to be tied 51-51 after the first end as the third arrow scored a lowly five points as France hit the seven twice. This lifeline led to a four point lead at the halfway stage for Mexico as it was France's turn to low score hitting a six, and while the eventual winners kept their play up at a high level, France hit three more sevens to crash to a seven point defeat.

MEXICO									FRANCE
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	9	5	10	8	9	51		1	10	10	7	8	9	7	51
2	10	8	9	10	8	10	55		2	8	10	9	9	6	9	51
3	9	10	8	9	8	10	54		3	7	7	9	9	10	10	52
4	8	9	9	9	10	8	53		4	9	7	9	10	8	9	52
Total							213		Total							206

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Final Score - WC2010 Quarterfinal, Japan vs Portugal

Saturday 3rd July 2010 - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg - Att. 55,359
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

LINEUPS:
Japan (433): Kawashima, Komano,Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Tanaka (Konno 79'), Abe, Endo (Nakamura 45'), Hasebe, Honda, Okubo (Tamada 60'), Matsui
Portugal (433): Eduardo, Costa, Coentrao, Carvalho, Alves, Mendes, Tiago, Meireles, Ronaldo, Simao (Almeida 86'), Danny (Veloso 64')

The last quarterfinal was another defensively-minded contest that only needed the one goal to determine a winner. Japan fought hard to try and break down the Portuguese defence but were foiled at every turn throughout the first half. Portugal also had difficulty in getting a look at goal with Yuichi Komano especially lively at the back for Japan.

At the end of a half where Ronaldo was the only player to hit the target when his shot deflected into the arms of Kawashima the fans were probably happy there was some entertainment during the interval. The match continued where it left off and the first real chance did not come until the hour mark when a cross by Costa was headed down by Simao and shot off the top of the crossbar by Fabio Coentrao.

Portugal always looked the most likely to score and they had another chance, this coming in the 78th minute, when Tiago's intelligent ball to Veloso allowed the substitute midfielder to find Raul Meireles in the box but his shot only found the side netting.

Then with extra time six minutes away Japan broke Portuguese hearts with a stunning counter attack. It all began with Nakazawa cutting out a hard pass and then moving it forward for Abe. The midfielder  then skipped one challenge before feeding it through the defence for Daisuke Matsui to hammer it home and make it an all-Asian semifinal against South Korea.

Japan 1 - 0 Portugal
Goalscorers:
JPN Matsui 84' (2)

Discipline:
POR Meireles 56'

Man of the Match:
JPN Yuichi Komano

Final Score - WC2010 Quarterfinal, South Korea vs Ghana

Saturday 3rd July 2010 - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Att. 64,100
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

LINEUPS:
South Korea (451): Ryong, Ri (KH Il 69'), Pyo, Hyung, LJ Soo, Yueng, Woo (Kyung 69'), Hun (KM Soo 80'), Young, PJ Sung, Yong
Ghana (451): Kingson, Pantsil, Sarpei, John Mensah, Johnathon Mensah (Boateng 61'), Annan, Asamoah (I Ayew 88'), Tagoe, Gyan, Prince-Boateng, A Ayew (Owusu-Abeiya 83')

While not a match for the ages, both teams went all out in the opening ten minutes, rushing forward at every opportunity with South Korea not quite able to penetrate and Ghana forcing Ryong to save down low on shots from Johnathon Mensah and Ayew. The next thirty-five minutes was an exercise in futility as both sides locked down their defences tight and played out a largely dull first half.

The second half also started with a lot of excitement. Prince-Boateng couldn't believe his header was saved on the goalline, and he was frustrated seconds later on the resulting corner when his volley fizzed just wide. ten minutes after the restart and there was a goal to celebrate. A fluffed claerance by Richard Kingson fell straight to Hun whose quick thinking split the defence and Park Chu Young drove a hard shot past the shamed Ghanian keeper.

Young had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 74th minute but, like the last three Korean matches, could not add any more goals with this chance going high after another great pass this time from Sung. Ghana looked bereft of ideas but they would end the match with a man advantage. Defender Cho Yong Hyung was booked for the second time in the 88th minute and will miss the semifinal clash against either Jpana or Portugal.

South Korea 1 - 0 Ghana
Goalscorers:
KOR Young 55' (2)

Discipline:
KOR Yong 4'
GHA Prince-Boateng 30'
KOR Hyung 60'
GHA Ayew 63'
KOR Hyung (off) 88'
KOR Young 89'

Man of the Match:
KOR Park Chu Young

Final Score - WC2010 Quarterfinal, Argentina vs Germany

Friday 2nd July 2010 - Soccer City, Johannesburg - Att. 84,017
Referee: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)

LINEUPS:
Argentina (442): Romero, Otamendi, Heinze, Demichelis (Gutierrez 60'), Burdisso, Mascherano, Rodriguez, di Maria, Higuain, Tevez (Aguero 101'), Messi (Milito 74')
Germany (451): Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger (Trochowski 118'), Oezil, Khedria (Jansen 67'), Klose, Podolski, Mueller (Gomez 86')

Sergio Romero was the hero in the first half for Argentina, limiting the Germans to a one-goal lead at halftime, and his great performance would extend throughout the match. The Argentine team had little to build on after forty-five minutes with their opponents enjoying a large slice of the possession generating chances for Klose and Mueller who were both denied by Romero and Podolski sliced his late shot wide.

The breakthrough came early though when in the 14th minute Friedrich intercepted a pass and started the Germans on a break. Khedira ran with purpose down the touchline and his far post cross was met by Miroslav Klose to head home a rocket for his fourth goal of the tournament.

After the interval Argentina quickly sorted themselves out and soon made a real game of it when just after the hour mark Otamendi roofed home a defence splitting pass from Mascherano. Minutes before Gonzalo Higuin was denied by Neuer at his post but things developed into a stalemate after the equalising goal.

The next big chance fell to Germany, sub Michael Jansen's improvised bicycle kick clipping the top of the bar after Mueller had put a cross behind his teammate. Mueller then had the chance to be a hero in stoppage time when Friedrich's corner kick was met by the forward at the near post only for his header to go over the crossbar.

So Argentina take another game to extra time where they had to rely on Romero to stop Jansen, Schweinsteiger and Podolski as the German team continued to pass the ball smartly. Argentina's game-winning chance came in the second half of extra time when Burdisso ran past two opposing players and fed Aguero to put him clear on goal, but the substitutes shot was very poor and proved easy pickings for Neuer.

The penalty shootout was a demonstration on how to take spot kicks with twelve of the thirteen penalties finding the back of the net. The tension increased exponentially after each goal and it may have proved to much for Nicolas Burdisso who slammed his high shot against the crossbar, moving the pressure over to Phillipp Lahm who dispatched his kick past Romero to put Germany through to the semifinals where they will face the Netherlands.

Argentina 1 (aet) 1 Germany, Germany win 7-6 on penalties
Goalscorers:
GER Klose 14'
ARG Otamendi 61'

Penalty Shootout:
ARG Heinze, Higuain, Aguero, Rodriguez, Otamendi, Milito, Burdisso
GER Klose, Podolski, Jansen, Boateng, Oezil, Gomez, Lahm

Discipline:
GER Schweinstiger 109'

Man of the Match:
ARG Sergio Romero

Final Score - WC2010 Quarterfinal, Netherlands vs Brazil

Friday 2nd July 2010 - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - Att. 40,186
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

LINEUPS:
Netherlands (451): Stekelenberg, van der Wiel (Schaars 73'), van Bronckhorst, Heitinga, Mathijsen, van der Vaart, Sneijder, van Bommel (Braafheid 82'), van Persie, Elia, Robben (Boulahrouz 63')
Brazil (451): Cesar, Malcon, Bastos, Lucio, Juan, G Silva (Elano 69'), F Melo (Josue 55'), Alves (Nilmar 78'), Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho

The Dutch team welcomed back Stekelenburg in goal but Nigel de Jong was suspended leaving van der Vaart to fill in the gap in midfield. The first half was one long tide of orange as Brazil were penned back in throughout the first half and, when they did get forward, delivered some very poor crosses.

The Netherlands continued to be ultra aggressive in their style of play with van Bommel earning a yellow card, and a suspension, in only the second minute of play. The midfield replacement, Rafael van der Vaart, was also on the same page as he picked a booking either side of halftime leaving Holland a man short in yet another match.

The sending off would have little impact however as the Netherlands were 2-0 up through Mathijsen scoring at the near post after good work from Elia and van der Vaart in the 16th minute, and just before halftime van Persie dove on to a hard Sniejder cross to send the ball in off the post.

On the hour mark, six minutes after van der Vaart had been sent off, Brazil looked no closer to threatening their opponents and Robin van Persie made them pay with his fourth goal of the championship and it was the pick of the bunch. van Bommel kicked it all off by winning an aerial battle against Brazilian substitute Josue, flicking the ball to van der Wiel. The Dutch midfielder looked up and played the perfect through ball for van Persie to run onto, dribbling around Cesar and slotting the ball home from a very tight angle.

Brazil had some chances late on but they were a beaten side and merely put their foot right through the ball on each shot. Nilmar and Malcon blazed high and wide, Bastos shot straight at Stekelenburg.

Netherlands 3 - 0 Brazil
Goalscorers:
NED Mathijsen 16'
NED van Persie 43'
NED van Persie 60'

Discipline:
NED van Bommel 2' (sus)
NED van der Wiel 40'
NED van der Vaart 41'
NED van der Vaart (off) 54'

Man of the Match:
NED Robin van Persie

Final Score - World Cup 2010 Quarterfinal Draw

Netherlands vs Brazil
Argentina vs Germany
South Korea vs Ghana
Japan vs Portugal