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Quaterfinals are set at the Argentina

2012-02-01 11:02:00

Day 3 at the Argentina FIH Champions Trophy in Rosario started with Netherlands taking a 4-1 win over Japan claiming the top of Pool A. Despite defeating China 3-1 Great Britain finished second due to their goal difference. Germany surprised by winning Pool B after beating New Zealand 3-1 while Argentina had to settle for 2nd place in their pool after a 2-2 draw with Korea. The World Champions face China in Thursday’s quarterfinal, Netherlands play New Zealand, Germany take on Japan and Great Britain meet Korea.

Two strikes make Paumen all-time top scorer in Champions Trophy history
Pool A – NED 4-1 JPN

Dutch Maartje Paumen contributed two goals to Netherlands’s 4-1 win over Japan at the Argentina FIH Champions Trophy and became all-time leading scorer in Champions Trophy history on 23 goals. The Netherlands extended their unbeaten streak in Champions Trophy competition to nine matches after defeating Japan in their last match in Pool A. This victory is their longest run without defeat since a nine-match streak between 2006-2008. Having lost all three pool matches in Rosario, Japan finish last in the table.

It took the Dutch not even six minutes to open the scoring. Kim Lammers (6’) picked up a pass coming from Sabine Mol and sored her 2nd goal of the tournament to lift her career to 20 Champions Trophy goals. Two minutes later the Dutch won a penalty corner which was converted by flicker Paumen (8’) scoring her first goal at Rosario 2012 and equaling German Nadine Ernsting-Krienke as all-time top scorer on 22 Champions Trophy goals. After Japan failed to score from three penalty corners, Akane Shibata (32’) finally put her team on the score-board. It was Japan's first goal against the Dutch in Champions Trophy history as well as their first field goal since Kaori Fujio scored in a 3-3 draw versus China in 2008.

Paumen broke the record in the 44th minute when she flicked in the Dutch’s third penalty corner in this match. Afterwards Lammers (61’) collected her 2nd goal to lift her total to three at Rosario 2012. Japan won another three penalty corners towards the end of the match but couldn't convert.

Great Britain finish second in Pool A after defeating China
Pool A –CHN 1-3 GBR

Great Britain finish second in their group behind Netherlands on goal difference and will play the 3rd ranked team from Pool B. China finish third and will play Korea in the quarterfinal.

Despite of heavy rainfall Great Britain started off with great pace. Their pressure on China led to an early penalty corner which was converted by specialist Crista Cullen (5’). Her drag flick caught the Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Lei’s pad and deflected into the goal. It was Cullen’s fourth goal in this competition making her top scorer. The 26 year old also breaks a record as she becomes the first player to score more than three goals at a single Champions Trophy tournament for Great Britain. After China’s first promising attack, they used their team-referral because they were convinced that Tung Chunling had touched the ball inside the circle and scored. The video umpire could not make a decision on this. China kept their referral however the score of 0-1 stayed. The end of the first half did not see much action in either the circles.

Great Britain started into the second half with real fire and it was not long before Cullen (42’) put her name on the score sheet again. By converting another penalty corner she broke another record. Being on seven Champions Trophy career goals, she has overtaken staff-member Karen Brown who has scored six Champions Trophy goals in her career. China struck back when Fu Barong scored her first Champions Trophy goal since netting against Argentina in 2010. She is now on a competition total of 16 goals.

Great Britain maintained the pressure as they needed to beat China by at least three goals to top Pool A. Ashley Ball (54’) extended the lead to 3-1 before China created some opportunities but they failed to score from these.

Germany impress with win over New Zealand
Pool B – NZL 1-3 GER

Germany seemed to have recovered well from Sunday’s defeat against Argentina. In their last pool match against New Zealand they were on fire from the first minute of the match. After Celine Wilde had won an early penalty corner Nina Hasselmann (5’) was the one who scored to give Germany the early lead. The attempt was close to failing after the Germans were unable to control the ball at the circle, however, Katharina Otte picked it up and managed to shoot on goal. The shot was saved by the diving New Zealand keeper Sally Rutherford but Nina Hasselmann smashed in the deflection.

Germany stayed the dominating side winning another penalty corner soon after. The Black Sticks took their team-referral because they were sure that there was no foot in the circle. Their call was denied by the video umpire and the corner stayed. Hasselmann was successful again but this time the umpires used their referral to check whether there has any obstruction occurred. The goal was finally denied by the video umpire. Germany continued to keep the pressure on. Hasselmann (9’) who was particularly on fire converted another penalty corner when she net from a short angle. The 25 year old is the second German player ever to score two penalty corner goals in a Champions Trophy match.

New Zealand penetrated the German circle in the middle of the first half for the first time. They failed to score from three penalty corners as German keeper Yvonne Frank saved brilliantly. Lisa Hahn’s counter-attack goal resulted in a 3-0 halftime score, the same result as in 2011’s Champions Trophy encounter when Germany won 5-2 after a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Play got hectic in the second half as the Black Sticks were urgent to score. New Zealand stretched the German defence and used their speed to penetrate into the circle for a number of promising attacks. One of these let to New Zealand’s goal through Anita Punt (61’) to make the 3-1. German coach Michael Behrmann was really busy in trying to keep his team well-structured. The German team responded to his advice and kept the Black Sticks from scoring further.

Aymar’s late goal saves point against Korea
Pool B – ARG 2-2 KOR

Despite of being winless against Argentina in four successive Champions Trophy matches Korea went with a lot of enthusiasm into this encounter with the home team. The underdogs could be very confident as they just have beaten the World Champions at Cordoba’s Four Nations Tournament. Korea were the team who created the better chances and kept the Argentine defence busy. Team-captain Lee Seon-Ok converted Korea’s first penalty corner in the 21st minute. This goal against seemed to be a wake up call for Las Leonas who suddenly started attacking. It took them two more minutes until they won their first penalty corner which succeeded. Noel Barrionuevo’s (23’) drag-flick went directly into the net leaving the Korean goalie Moon Younghui no chance. The score was 1-1 at halftime.

The beginning of the second half did not see much action in the circles either until Korea won another penalty corner which went wide. Afterwards the match could have gone either side. Moon had a spectacular save against a penalty corner flick from Barrionuevo before Lee Seon-Ok (67’) took the lead or Korea. Her direct shot at a penalty corner was smashed into Belen Succi’s goal. Argentina were urgent to reclaim pride and gained a penalty corner. Korea used their referral on this decision but their request was denied. After a great variation Argentina’s star Luciana Aymar (69’) scored the equalizing goal much to delight of the home crowd.

Source FIH