Olympic classification matches: GB come fifth

GB concluded a fine tournament with a bizarrely contrasting game which was scoreless in the first half before bursting into life in the second with seven goals, running out 5-2 winners over Korea.

Winger Jonty Clarke grabbed a brace of field goals, with other strikes came from the sticks of Barry Middleton, Ashley Jackson, and Glenn Kirkham.Middleton opened the goal-rush in the 44th minute after a fairly uneventful opening but the lead lasted less than four minutes, when Jong Hyun Jang slammed in a penalty corner.

Jackson netted a stroke before Clarke added his brace. Hye Sung Hyun pulled one back but Kirkham’s deflected field goal ended the tournament on a high to claim fifth place overall.

China finished 11th, meanwhile, beating South Africa after extra-time. South Africa were first on the scoreboard with an opportunistic goal by Lungile Tsolekile, picking up the rebound.
Yubo Na’s close-range effort leveled matters by the break and captain Yi Song added two corners in quick succession to put the hosts in the box-seat.

But the South Africans summoned some great effort in a bid to end their disappointing campaign on a high note, fighting back through Ian Symons stroke and a corner strike from Austin Smith with a handful of seconds left on the clock, pushing the game into sudden death overtime.

Yi Song though was the one to grab the golden goal – his seventh of the tournament to give China their first win of the tournament.