Zhao hits hat-trick as China take Seventh 

7^th – 8^th Classification: Germany 3-5 China

Reigning FIH Young Player of the Year Zhao Yudiao scored a brilliant hat-trick to help China grab seventh place at the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy in a thrilling early morning match here in Amstelveen.

A breathtaking, free-flowing game saw China surge into a 4-0 lead thanks to goals from Sun Sinan, two from Zhao and a beauty from Song Qingling. Germany got back to within one goal of their opponents with Marie Mävers, Janine Beermann and Julia Müller contributing, before Zhao completed her hat-trick in the 54^th minute to effectively win the game.

The result condemned Germany women to an eighth place finish, their lowest ever ranking in an FIH Champions Trophy event.  

Although the early morning match started slowly, it burst into life in the 20^th minute when China opened the scoring the 20^th minute through Sun Sinan’s low penalty corner flick.

Moments later the team from Asia doubled their advantage through 2010 FIH Young Player of the Year Zhao Yudiao, although Germany were guilty of some pretty slack marking. Zhao received a pass from the left in acres of space, which gave her more than enough time to pick her spot and unleash a reverse stick shot beyond despairing Germany keeper Barbara Vogel.

Zhao put her name on the score-sheet for the second time with ten minutes of the half remaining when she guided a penalty corner strike into the net on the right. Three soon became four thanks to a stunning strike from Song Qingling who fired into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles to give China a 4-0 lead.

Germany were in pieces, but regained their composure to pull a goal back just before half time when Marie Mävers slapped into the net shortly before the break.

Germany made things very interesting shortly after the break with two goals in quick succession, bringing them to within one strike of their opponents. Janine Beermann crashed home a blistering strike from the top of the circle before Julia Müller’s penalty corner strike flew into the net courtesy of a wicked deflection.   

Zhao gave China some breathing space once again with third goal of the match, turning inside her marker before firing a tomahawk shot into the roof of the Germany goal.

Germany dominated the last ten minutes of the match and even resorted to bringing on an extra outfield player in place of their goal-keeper. However, they failed to find a way through as China finished their tournament on a high.