China 4 defeat New Zealand 0
Goals: MA Yi Bo PC 3m, LI Hong Xia PC 7m REN Ye FG 50m, FU Bao Rong PC 55m
China have have qualified for Sunday’s final with an outstanding victory over New Zealand.
The China team have been improving all tournament and came out with all guns blazing at the start of the first half. They were the dominant force from the moment the game started, and found themselves with a two goal lead after just seven minutes thanks to PC conversions from MA Yi Bo & LI Hong Xia. At that point things did not look good for New Zealand, but they worked hard to create some good chances which they could not convert.
New Zealand’s Laura DOUGLAS had the first genuine goal scoring opportunity of the second half when the China defenders failed to trap an optimistic pass, but she sliced her shot wide of the target. New Zealand were punished for their lack of goal scoring prowess by a China side who were in ruthless form. REN Yi tapped in shortly after GAO Li Hua received the tournament’s first yellow card, then FU Bao Rong rifled in a slick penalty corner routine. To compound New Zealand misery, MAI Shao Yan cleared a bouncing ball off the goal-line, denying them their first goal in this years’ Rabo Women’s Champions Trophy.
China scored three times from five penalty corner attempts, a staggering strike rate at international level.
Australia 2 defeat Germany 1
Goals: AUS – Karen SMITH FG 23m, Madonna BLYTH FG 62m; GER: Nadine ERNSTING-KRIENKE FG 63m.
Australia finally got their first win of the tournament with an unexpected victory over league leaders Germany. The result means that Germany will have to sweat it out during the final match of the day to see if they still progress into the final.
The first half saw both teams creating good chances, with the in-form Natascha KELLER at the heart of many of Germany’s best opportunities. Germany’s Kirsten HOYER had a great chance to open the scoring, with her near-post shot saved well by Aussie keeper Rachel LYNCH. Karen SMITH put the Australians in the lead with a well-taken deflection that gave Germany keeper Yvonne FRANK little chance to react. Germany immediately went of the offensive, with KELLER hitting the outside of the post, but Germany struggled to get past a well-organised Australia defence
In the second period Australia looked like the only team capable of winning it, as Germany become visibly frustrated and started to question umpiring decisions. Australia created the better chances, and had it not been for some fine saves from FRANK, then the score could have been bigger. Then, with seven minutes to play, the game burst to life with two goals within a minute of each other. Madonna BLYTH finally got the second goal that Australia had deserved, but Germany pulled a goal back immediately through Nadine ERNSTING-KRIENKE who deflected in a pass from the left of the circle.
However, it was too little too late though for Germany, who need at a draw between The Netherlands and Argentina in the last match of the day. A Netherlands victory would see the home side seal their place in the final.
Argentina 3 defeat Netherlands 2
Goals: ARG – Maria HERNANDEZ PC 7m, Alejandra GULLA FG 12m, Soledad GARCIA FG 69; NED – Janneke SCHOPMAN PC 26m, Kim LAMMERS FG 32m.
In the final match of the day, Argentina shocked the Netherlands by producing yet another last minute winner, and subsequently stopped the home side from reaching tomorrows’ final.
An incredible first half saw The Netherlands facing a mountain to climb after just 12 minutes, conceding twice thanks partly to the brilliance of Luciana AYMAR. She played key role in both, winning the penalty corner which Maria HERNANDEZ forced in and slipping a pass through to Marine RUSSO to fire a shot towards goal brilliantly deflected in by Alejandra GULLA. Despite being two goals down, the home team had a great deal of possession and always looked likely to get back into the match. Janneke SCHOPMAN pulled one back in the 26th minute with a well-worked penalty corner routine, before Kim LAMMERS equalised three minutes before half time.
The second half was breathtaking end-to-end hockey, but there was always a feeling that Netherlands were going to the team to break the deadlock. However, as the threat of AYMAR began to fade, the influence of Soledad GARCIA began to grow for Argentina. She was at the centre of much of their most telling attacks, and eventually scored the best and most dramatic goal of the game. Cutting in from the right, she evaded three tackles before unleashing a vicious strike into the roof of the net.
GARCIA's last minute strike was enough for victory and means that China and Germany will compete in tomorrow's gold medal match. Argentina and The Netherlands will play each other again tomorrow in the 3rd/4th place play-off, with New Zealand and Australia trying to avoid finishing in last position.
