New Zealand surprise by drawing with Argentina
Pool B – Argentina 2-2 New Zealand

New Zealand are the surprise of day one after achieving a tied result against the World Champions. Although Argentina fought back after being 0-2 down, the result is still a success for the Black Sticks. 

Argentina started off great on their home soil but failed to score from open play. New Zealand were penetrating the circle through counter-attacks. Although every Argentine ball possession made the crowd cheer the Black Sticks were the first team to win a penalty corner in this match. While the current World Champions did not win any penalty corners in the first half, New Zealand - who lost their two previous matches against Argentina at the recent Four Nations tournament in Cordoba - surprised by opening the scoring thanks to an open play effort from Stacey Michelsen (28'). The last time Argentina were trailing at half-time in a Champions Trophy match was in 2011 against Korea 1-1 (0-1). 

New Zealand doubled lead in yhe second half when Samantha Harrison (50’) flicked the rebound coming from the Argentine goalkeeper Belen Succi into the net. One minute later Argentine Martina Cavallero (51') scored in her debut match, sparking wild celebrations from a huge home crowd. The Black Sticks called for a video referral, but failed in their attempt to get the goal overturned. “Las Leonas” - who won the 2010 FIH World Cup in the same stadium here in Rosario - kept on penetrating the Black Sticks’ circle and created several opportunities but couldn’t defeat the outstanding defence from New Zealand. Three minutes before the end of the match Delfina Merino (67') finally equalized for Argentina after converting the rebound of a penalty corner. It was the second time Argentina have come back from being two goals down in a Champions Trophy match.

Black Stick Clarissa Eshuis played her 100th cap today.

Match Review 4. Argentina - New Zealand 2-2

> Argentina came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 for the first time since the 2002 CT final against China.
> Argentina extended their unbeaten run against New Zealand in CT competition to 9 matches.
> New Zealand got their first result in a CT match against Argentina since drawing 2-2 in 1999.
> Stacey Michelsen gave New Zealand a 1-0 lead. The Black Sticks have now scored in 2 successive CT matches vs Argentina, having failed to score against Argentina in 5 consecutive CT matches before 2011.
> Samantha Harrison scored her second CT career goal and her first since scoring in New Zealand 5-2 defeat against Germany in 2010.
> Argentina’s Martina Cavellero scored in her CT debut match.
> Delfina Merino scored against New Zealand like she did in the 2010 Champions Trophy ARG-NZL 4-0. She is now on 5 CT career goals.
> Argentina converted 1 of 4 penalty corners awarded in this match (25%). At Amstelveen 2011 Argentina converted 4 of 19 penalty corners awarded (21%).
> New Zealand failed to convert their only PC awarded in this match. New Zealand's penalty corner success rate for Amstelveen 2011 was is 3 for 14 (21%).

Match Preview 4. Argentina - New Zealand (January 28th, 8:00pm)

Head-to-Heads
> Argentina are unbeaten in 8 CT matches against New Zealand winning the last 7 encounters.
> Their biggest CT win over the Black Sticks came at the 2004 CT in Rosario, when they beat the Kiwis 6-0. This match marks Argentina’s biggest CT victory.
> New Zealand’s sole result against Argentina came in their first CT encounter in 1999 (2-2).
> Last Week (18-22 January), Argentina beat New Zealand twice (7-3 and 3-2 AET) in the 4 Nations tournament in Cordoba. Argentina finished third in the tournament, trailing Korea and Great Britain. New Zealand finished fourth.

Argentina
> Argentina are ranked 2nd on the Worlds ranking.
> In 2011 Las Leonas lost their status as World Number 1 to the Netherlands after losing the 2011 Champions Trophy final in a penalty shoot-out.
> Argentina have won only one of their last 4 Champions Trophy matches – 3-2 win over New Zealand in a Champions Group match at the 2011 CT.
> 7-time FIH World Player of the year, Luciana Aymar has scored in her last 2 CT matches for Argentina. Her personal record is scoring in 4 consecutive CT matches.
> At age 34, Aymar is the second oldest player to represent Argentina in the Champions Trophy and the oldest since Maria Magdalena Aicega (34) in 2008.
> Penalty corner specialist Noel Barrionuevo is on a career total of 20 CT goals all from penalty corners.
> Coming into this tournament, the all-time CT top scorer was Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER) on 22 CT goals. Maartje Paumen (NED) was on 21 goals at the start of the 2012 CT.

New Zealand
> New Zealand are ranked 6th on the FIH world ranking.
> Since 2008 (11th), the Black Sticks have improved their world ranking every year moving up to 9th in 2009, 7th in 2010 and 6th in 2011.
> Coach Mark Hager has taken the team from 12th to sixth ranked team in the world.
> Charlotte Harrison is on a 3-match scoring streak in CT competition, which in already a New Zealand record.
> The all-time record for scoring in successive CT matches is 6 and is jointly held by Jackie Pereira (AUS 1987-1989) and Noel Barrionuevo (ARG 2010).
> Anita Punt and Gemma Flynn were named in the FIH All Star team in 2011.
> Defender Sophie Devine has also played cricket for New Zealand, making her debut for the White Ferns in 2006. In 2011 she decided to stop playing cricket and concentrate on playing hockey in a bid to secure a place on New Zealand's squad for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
> Midfielder Stacey Michelsen and forward Anita Punt name Argentina’s Luciana Aymar as their idol.
> In 2011, Cathryn Finlayson scored 3 goals in 4 matches against Argentina.