Korea join Argentina in Medal Round at Rabo FIH Champions Trophy

Korea and Argentina played out a 1-1 draw in the third match of the day here at the Wagener Stadium, a result which means that Korea joined the world champions as qualifiers for the medal round of the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy.  

Korea went into the match knowing that anything better than a 2-0 defeat would have put them through to Pool C ahead of England, and took a huge step to achieving that feat when Park Mi Hyun scored the opener midway through the first half. However, Argentina hit back in the second period thanks to a field goal from Daniela Sruoga to make sure that they took at least a point through to the next phase of the competition.

Argentina were on top for most of the first half, but were guilty of missing some golden scoring opportunities. Delfina Merino sent a shot over the crossbar from a penalty corner situation, while a surging run from Agustina Soledad Garcia caused chaos in the Korean circle before the ball struck a post and was cleared to safety.

With Argentina dominating both possession and chances it was easy to understand why most people expected the South Americans to take the lead, but Korea had other ideas and moved ahead through Park Mi Hyun. An explosive break forward down the right saw Park sprint past Noel Barrionuevo before entering the circle and crashing a reverse stick shot past stricken Argentinean keeper Belen Succi.

Las Leonas went in search of an immediate equalizer but missed another good chance when Carla Rebecchi’s shot was deflected just wide of the target by the stick of a Korean defender.  

Just before the break things went from bad to worse for Las Leonas when Mariela Scarone was shown a yellow card for a cynical challenge, earning her five minutes to cool off in the sin bin.  

Argentina regrouped at half time and came out fighting in the second period, but the Koreans were equal to the triple Champions Trophy holders and denied them at every opportunity.

Eventually though, the pressure began to tell when Korea conceded two penalty corners in quick succession. The first effort was comfortably blocked before Korea keeper Moon Young Hui denied the second the second by diving to her right to block Barrionuevo’s high flick.   

The equalizer came in the 57^th minute when a Garcia drilled a perfect pass from midfield through to the waiting Luciana Aymar, who nudged the ball past Moon before Sruoga applied the finishing touch.

Argentina had a late penalty corner to win the game, but Moon made a solid block from the strike of Barrionuevo to earn a draw for her team. 

Review 11. Argentina vs Korea 1-1 - Rabo FIH Champions Trophy 2011

> Argentina and Korea both progress, taking today's 1-1 draw with them to Pool C.

> Argentina fail to win their first world level match since drawing 2-2 with Germany at the 2010 CT. They had won 13 successive matches ever since: 6 at CT and 7 at World Cup.

> Korea finish in the top 4 of a Champions Trophy tournament for the first time since 1997 when they finished fourth.

> Argentina have converted 1 of 13 penalty corners awarded so far at Amstelveen 2011, but did not convert any of their 5 pc’s today.

> Korea have been awarded 12 penalty corners so far, including 3 today, but are yet to convert.