Poland down Canada with late goals

Argentina whip Bangladesh 8-1

France, Belgium draw 1-1

Poland rally to down Canda 2-1

USA edges Russia 1-0

It was an action-packed first day in the men's World Cup hockey qualifier, with Argentina emerging easy victors and Poland scoring late in the match to beat Canada at the Peffermill stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Tuesday.

While Argentina swamped lowly Bangladesh 8-1 in the opening match of the tournament in Pool B, Poland, who finished 12th in the Sydney Olympics, got the better of Canada 2-1, their goals coming within a space of three minutes late in the match.

In anther match in Pool B, France and Belgium drew 1-1. Both the goals came in the second session.

Mario Almada and Jorge Lombi scored hat-tricks for Argentina, who led 4-1 at half-time in the Pool B match.

It took a while for Argentina to settle into a rhythm after being quite scrappy for the first 15 minutes. The South Americans got their first goal in the 16th minute through Mario Almada, who looked dangerous right through the match. Almada dribbled into the circle from the left and hit a beautiful reverse stick shot into the far corner to score.

Argentina scored again in the 18th minute through Jorge Lombi to consolidate the lead. From a penalty-corner, Retegui faked the flick, and allowed it to travel to Lombi, who wasted no time in dispatching the ball into the upper right side of the goal.

The third goal for the South Americans was scored in the 23rd minute by Capurro, who took advantage of a bouncing ball, which came off the 'keeper, and knocked it home in a flash.

Bangladesh earned their first and only goal of the match in 28th minute through Isa Mia. Mia picked a long ball and hit it through the goalkeeper's legs to reduce the margin to 3-1.

Argentina scored another goal before the breather in the 30 minute through Almada.

In the second half, again they took some time to settle down and scored their fifth goal only in the 44th minute, when Lombi got his second of the match, hitting low to the goalkeeper's left.

The South American's scored again in 52nd minute to go up 6-1 before Mario Almada completed his hat-trick, scoring the seventh goal for Argentina in 54th minute.

The eighth goal for Argentina came in the 58th minute through Jorge Lombi following a penalty-corner, which also saw him complete his hat-trick.

In the second match in Pool B, Belgium held France to a 1-1 draw.

Both the teams were locked goalless in the first half.

Belgium tried their best to put some pressure towards the end, but good defensive work by the French defence kept them off the scoreboard.

France shot into lead through Florent Durchon in the 55th minute. Durchon converted a pass he received from Antoine Moreau, finding the top of the net.

Belgium scored the equalizer through defender Maxime Luycx in the 65th minute. Following a penalty-corner, Jean Willems, with the drag flick, pushed wide to the right and Luycx deflected home.

Belgium had a very good chance to go into lead in the next minute, but Alexandre de Chaffoy's hit from close went wide off an open goal.

Belgium had 10 penalty-corners in the match, but could not convert a single.

Two goals withing three minutes at the fag end of the match enabled Poland to get the better of Canada by the odd goal in three in their opening match in Group D.

Poland, who came into the match with a string of victories -- including one over tournament favourites India in practice on Sunday -- were rewarded for an attacking display. They were a goal in arrears till the 61st minute, but once they levelled there was nothing the Canadians could do to stop their speedy forwards.

Poland held a slight edge in terms of posession in the first half though Canada had more of the scoring chances during which they looked dangerous.

Canada forged ahead in the seventh minute through Rick Roberts. Sean Campbell set up the goal with a pass to Ronnie Jagday, who in turn found Roberts. The last-named scored with a neat deflection.

A goal down at the breather, Poland came back strongly in the second session. In fact, they should have scored early but Canada's 'keeper Mike Mahood, who had a fine match, thwarted them.

After making some good raids into the Canada circle, Poland finally splintered through and scored eight minutes from the final whistle. Robert Grzeszczak intercepted a pass from the right, advanced and found the roof of the net, giving goalkeeper Mike Mahood, who till then stood in Poland's way, no chance whatsoever.

Having tasted success, the Poland forwards swamped the Canada goal and within three minutes struck again. The goal came following a penalty-corner as Artur Mikula deflected home from a melee to put the Poles 2-1 up.

With time running out, the Canadians made a brave attempt to tie the match. Robin D'Abreo, Ken Pereira and Mike Oliver all had attempts at goal, but were unable to find the mark.

Rick Roberts of Canada and Dariusz Malecki of Poland were shown the green card in the first half.

Canada will have to beat Russia and the United State now to make the next round.

USA edged Russia with a solitary goal in the 58th minute by Daraspreet Kainth in the final match of the day. Russia dominated US throughout the game, but couldn't make it count.