New Delhi: Higher ranked Canada spanked minnows Italy 9-0, while France fought hard to register a 2-1 win over Poland in their respective men's hockey matches of the Olympic Qualification tournament here on Saturday.
In the first match, as expected, 14th ranked Canada were no match for the less-fancied Italians, ranked 28th, as they scored goals at will to make a strong start in the tournament.
Canada scored through Jameson David (13th minute), Matthew Guest (20th, 56th), Rob Short (34th, 57th), Hudson Stewart (39th), Iain Smythe (54) and Philip Wright (60th) to notch up an easy win and send warning signals to their rivals in the competition.
Meanwhile, in the second match, 18th ranked France had to sweat it out to earn a 2-1 win over nearest rival Poland (19th ranked).
France drew the first blood with a wonderful goal by Hugo Genestet in the ninth minute to go into the breather with a 1-0 lead.
The Frenchmen doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Lucas Sevestre found the target from their first penalty corner.
France's two-goal lead was, however, short lived as Szymon Oszyjcczyk pulled one back for Poland two minutes later.
Even though, the Polish pressed hard for the equaliser but France managed to hold on to their narrow one-goal lead to pocket full points from the encounter.
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