Las Leonas make light work of China

Argentina have won Pool A with a game to spare thanks to a superb 4-1 won over China in the second match of the day here at the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy in Amstelveen. Noel Barrionuevo, Agustina Soledad Garcia,  Delfina Merino and Daniela Sruoga found the target as the World Champions simply overpowered and outclassed the Olympic Silver medallists. 

The win puts them onto six points, four clear of their nearest rival Korea with just one match remaining confirming them as winners of Pool A and qualifiers for Pool C.  

Argentina started the game without attacking star Carla Rebecchi, who was given time to recover from the ankle injury that she sustained in Saturday’s match against England. Despite that loss, Las Leonas started the game magnificently and won two penalty corners inside the first six minutes of the match. Drag flick star Noel Barrionuevo failed to test China keeper Zhang Yimeng on both occasions. However, that all changed when a third penalty corner was awarded in the 16th minute, which Barrionuevo slammed into the bottom left corner of the China goal.

Although Argentina had started the brighter of the two teams, China gave their opponents a number of big scares before they eventually drew level through a penalty corner of their own in the 20th minute. An early break from the line resulted in one Argentina defender being ordered to the halfway line, and China took full advantage when the unmarked Zhao Yudiao deflected home from close range.  

Argentina came close to restoring the lead shortly before the break when Agustina Soledad Garcia brilliantly weaved her way into the circle from the right before teeing up a chance for Maria Josefina Sruoga who sent here snap-shot just wide of the target.

The first half may have been closer than many had expected, but Argentina really turned on the style in the second period. Garcia established a 2-1 lead in the 43rd minute when she collected a pass from the right, drifted past China keeper Zhang and passed the ball into an empty net. China fell further behind seven minutes later when stunning pass from Aymar was forced home by Delfina Merino, before Daniela Sruoga took full advantage of some indecision by Zhang to score the fourth.

China rallied towards the end of the game but by that stage the result was never in doubt.  In the end it was a comfortable victory for the world champions, whose dream of winning a fourth successive Champions Trophy title is alive and kicking. 

Review  6. China vs Argentina 1-4 - Rabo FIH Champions Trophy 2011

> Argentina have qualified for Pool C by picking up their second win in Pool A at the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy.
> Argentina go top in Pool A with 6 points from 2 matches, leading Korea (2 points), England (1) and China (1).
> Noel Barrionuevo scored her 20th CT penalty corner goal to become the outright top scorer for Argentina in Champions Trophy competition exceeding Alejandra Gulla’s total of 19 CT goals.
> Soledad Garcia equalled Gulla’s total of 19 CT goals.
> Barrionuevo needs only two more goals to equal all-time overall CT top scorer Nadine Ernsting-Krienke on 22 CT goals.
> Ma Yibo broke the Chinese record for most Champions Trophy matches played (55). She exceeded Li Shuang (54 CT matches, 2001-2010).
> All 3 of China’s goals at the 2011 Champions Trophy have come from penalty corners.
> China are now on 3 PC goals from 8 attempts at the 2011 Champions Trophy.
> China's Zhoa Yudiao scored her second PC goal of the tournament and China's third.
> China's Zhao Yudiao joins Rebecca Herbert (ENG) and Kim Da-Rae (KOR) at the top of the goalscorer list on 2 goals.
> China's Zhao Yudiao joins Rebecca Herbert (ENG) and Kim Da-Rae (KOR) at the top of the goalscorer list on 2 goals.