Nicholas Wren of Trinidad & Tobago in action during the Olympic Qualifying Hockey match between Argentina and Trinidad & Tobago at Crown Relocations Hockey Stadium on February 3, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
Patrick Harris (L) of the USA competes for the ball during the Olympic Qualifying Hockey match between the United States of America and France at Crown Relocations Hockey Stadium on February 3, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
Ben Collier of New Zealand kicks David Hobbs of Ireland in the nose during the Olympic Qualifying Hockey match between New Zealand and Ireland at Crown Relocations Hockey Stadium on February 3, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
(BEIJING, February 3) -- On Day 2 of this year's first hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Auckland, host New Zealand overcame Ireland 3-1; Argentina thrashed Trinidad amd Tobago 7-1; France rallied back from a two-goal deficit to win over the US 7-4.
Day 1 in Auckland saw Ireland rout France 4-0 while New Zealand whitewashed underdogs Trinidad and Tobago 12-0. Ireland got an early lead in the 16th minute when Mark Gleghorne netted a penalty corner.
New Zealand leveled the score with a goal by Dave Kosoof, who scored his fifth goal of the tournament.
The Irish conceded an irksome goal as a hit bounced over the line off unlucky goalkeeper David Harte.
The US showed themselves in fine form at the start of their match against France, leading 2-0 in only 15 minutes. But two goals from France helped them level the score in the first half.
In the second half, France gradually acquired full control of the match and eventually rallied past the US 7-4. Underdogs Trinidad amd Tobago scored for the first time so far in the tournament, but they conceded seven goals to Argentina.
After two rounds of matches, Argentina and New Zealand kept a two-match winning streak, but Argentina top the table on goal differences. Dave Kosoof of New Zealand and Lucas Vila of Argentina top the goal ranking with five goals each.
The qualifiers will proceed on February 5 for the third round of matches. Ireland will host Trinidad amd Tobago; France will face New Zealand; and the US will fight against New Zealand.
Only the champion of the qualifiers will get a ticket to the Beijing Olympic Games.
