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.  

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 16^th 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 43^rd 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.

Match Preview  6. China vs Argentina (26 Jun 2011, 11:30) - Rabo FIH Champions Trophy 2011 Head to head
> Argentina have won their last two CT encounters with China by a 1-goal margin: 2-1 in 2009 and 4-3 in 2010.
> China’s last Champions Trophy win over Argentina dates back to the 2008 CT (2-1).
> Their last encounter came ate the 2010 World Cup and saw Argentina beating China 2-0.
 
China
> In their fist match at the 2011 CT China came back from 2 goals down to draw 2-2 with Korea.
> China have converted two (of four) penalty corners at the 2011 CT, leading all other teams after day 1.
> China scored twice from six goal attempts in their opening match against Korea.
> 2008 Olympic silver medallists China have failed to win a medal in major world level events since Beijing, finishing 5th at 2009 Sydney CT, 6th at 2010 Nottingham CT and 8th at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario.
> At last year’s World Cup, China lost all four of their matches against teams participating at this year’s CT:  0-3 vs New Zealand, 0-2 vs Argentina, 0-1 vs England and 1-2 vs Korea.
> Goa Lihua has collected more cards in CT competition than any other player (6 green and 3 yellow).
> Ma Yibo is China’s top scorer in Champions Trophy competition on 18 goals (all from penalty corners).
> Only Argentina’s Noel Barrionuevo has scored more penalty corner goals in CT competition (19).
> Ma Yibo can break the Chinese record for most Champions Trophy matches played. She is currently tied with Li Shuang (2001-2010) on 54 CT matches.
> China’s Fu Baorong and Zhao Yudiao were selected for the 2010 FIH Women’s All Star Team.
 
Argentina
> Argentina have won five successive CT matches, their longest winning streak in the competition.
> Argentina are on a 12-match winning streak in major competitions. Since drawing 2-2 with Germany at the 2010 CT in Nottingham, Las Leonas have won 5 CT matches and 7 World Cup matches.
> Argentina are the most experienced squads at the 2011 CT in terms of caps won.
> Argentina won their first match against England 1-0 through a Luciana Aymar goal.
> Aymar’s goal was one of only two shots on goal for Argentina in their match against England.
> Argentina were awarded 3 penalty corners in the match against England, but failed to convert.
> Noel Barrionuevo missed two penalty corners for Argentina against England. She is the all-time CT top scorer in terms of penalty corners, having converted 19.
> Noel Barrionuevo has won the CT top scorer title twice (2007 & 2010), equal most with Franziska Hentschel (1991, 1993) end Alyson Annan (1997, 1999).
> Barrionuevo can become the first player to win the top scorer title in three CT editions.