Luchetti’s late goal makes Argentina qualify for the Semi-Finals
4th Quarter Final – ARG 3-2 CHN

A match worthy of a Quarter Final that kept the spectators fully engaged throughout the game as four of the five goals were scored during the last ten minutes.
Argentina have won their last three Champions Trophy encounters with China: 2-1 in 2009, 4-3 in 2010 and 4-1 in 2011. China's last Champions Trophy win over Argentina dates back to 2008 (2-1). Pushed forward by their big home crowd Argentina’s first circle penetration occurred after a few minutes. Guided by their star Luciana Aymar, the World Champions created a lot of promising opportunities but the Chinese defence with team-captain Ma Yibo and goalkeeper Zhang Lei stayed strong. However, Noel Barrionuevo (15’) scored the lead when she converted a penalty stroke which was the outcome of two successive penalty corners. Barrionuevo is the first player since Maria Mercedes Margalot in 2005 to score a penalty stroke goal for Argentina in Champions Trophy competition. Barrionuevo has now scored in each of Argentina's last six matches versus China at world level events.

China had the better start into the second half. Their powerful play resulted in a penalty corner which was smashed in by expert Ma Yibo (45’). She is China's top goal scorer in Champions Trophy competition on 20 goals, all scored from penalty corners. China kept up their pace and the game could have gone either side. When Luciana Aymar was sent off with a green card China won their second penalty corner which failed. Play got hectic towards the end of the match as both wanted to score still in regular time. Delfina Merino (61’) shot a great reverse stick goal much to delight of their big cheering home crowd. China did not give up and equalised again when Argentina were short in numbers after a yellow card has been awarded to Mariela Scarone. China penetrated the circle quickly after a free-hit, Tang Chunling (62’) picked the ball up in the circle and tipped it in. However, Argentina scored the game-winning goal thanks to Rosario Luchetti (65') who converted their fourth penalty corner.

Match Review 14. Argentina - China 3-2

> Argentina are in the top 4 of a CT tournament for the 13th time (in succession).
> Argentina, ranked 2nd on the FIH World Ranking, take on Netherlands, ranked 1st on the FIH World ranking, in the semifinals on Saturday. Germany play Great Britain in the other semifinal.
> Argentina have now won their last 4 CT encounters with China.
> Noel Barrionuevo became the first player since Maria Mercedes Margalot in 2005 to score a PS goal for Argentina in CT competition.
> Barrionuevo has now scored in each of Argentina's last 6 matches vs China at world level events (5 CT matches and 1 World Cup match).
> Barrionuevo (23 goals) is now 2nd on the all-time CT top scorer list exceeding Nadine Ernsting-Krienke's 22 goals. Only with Maartje Paumen (NED) has scored more CT goals (24).
> China's CT top goalscorer Ma Yibo scored a PC goal to lift her career total to 20 (PC) goals in CT competition.
> Tang Chunling scored her fourth goal vs Argentina in world level events after scoring in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and the 2003 CT.
> Luciana Aymar (1 yellow – 8 green) equalled China's Gao Lihua's (3 yellow and 6 green) record of 9 cards received in Champions Trophy history.
> Argentina converted 1 of 4 penalty corners in this match and are now on 6 PC goals from 19 penalty corners awarded in the tournament (32%).
> China scored 1 of 2 PC and are now on a penalty corner success rate of 3 for 13 at Rosario 2012 (23%).
> China have now conceded 4 PC goals out of 17 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> Argentina have now conceded 4 PC goals out of 16 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.

Match Preview 14. Argentina - China (February 2nd, 8:00pm)

Head-to-Heads
> Argentina have won their last three CT encounters with China: 2-1 in 2009, 4-3 in 2010 and 4-1 in 2011.
> China’s last Champions Trophy win over Argentina dates back to the 2008 CT (2-1).
> At the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina beat China 2-0, goals scored by Noel Barrionuevo (PC) and Luciana Aymar.
> At last year’s CT in Amstelveen, Argentina won 4-1 goal scored by Noel Barrionuevo (PC), Soledad Garcia, Delfina Merino, Daniela Sruoga and China’s Zhao Yudiao (PC).

Argentina
> Argentina have beaten Germany 4-2 and have drawn 2-2 with both New Zealand and Germany.
> Argentina have scored 8 goals so far, 3 field goals and 5 penalty corners goals.
> Argentina have scored 5 PC goals from 15 penalty corners awarded in the tournament (33%). Only GB (38%) are on a higher PC success rate after the pool matches.
> Las Leonas have conceded 3 of 13 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> Noel Barrionuevo has scored in each of Argentina’s last 5 matches vs China at world level events ( 4 CT matches and 1 World Cup match).
> Noel Barrionuevo has won the CT top scorer title twice (2007 & 2010), equal most with Franziska Hentschel (1991, 1993), Alyson Annan (1997, 1999) and Maartje Paumen (2009, 2011).
> Noel Barrionuevo (22 goals) is joint 2nd on the all-time top scorer list with Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER). Only with Maartje Paumen (NED) has scored more CT goals (23 coming into the quarterfinal stage).
> 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.
> 7-time FIH World Player of the year, Luciana Aymar (34) is the second oldest player to represent Argentina in the Champions Trophy and the oldest since Maria Magdalena Aicega (34) in 2008.

China
> China won 1 of their 3 Pool matches beating Japan 2-1. They suffered 3-1 defeats against Netherlands and GB.
> China have scored four goals in the pool phase, only Japan have scored fewer goals (2).
> China’s 4 goals so far have been score by Fu Baorong, Zhao Yudiao, Ma Yibo (PC) and De Jiaojiao (PC)
> Ma Yibo is China’s top goalscorer in CT competition on 19 (PC) goals, equal with Luciana Aymar and Natascha Keller.
> Fu Baorong is on 16 CT career goals (14 FG, 1PC and 1PS)
> China have a penalty corner success rate of 2 for 11 at Rosario 2012 (18%).
> China have conceded 3 PC goals out of 13 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> 2010 Asian Games Champions China are the highest ranked Asian team on the world ranking in fifth place. China dropped from 4th to 5th in 2011. Fifth place is their lowest rank since 2007.
> This is China’s fifth successive CT appearance and their 12th in total.
> China have failed to win a medal in their last 4 CT participations. Their last CT medal dates back to 2006 when they claimed silver losing 3-2 to Germany in the final.
> Since wining silver in 2006, China have dropped a spot every year finishing 4th in 2008, 5th in 2009, 6th in 2010 and 7th in 2011.
> China’s Gao Lihua holds the record for most cards shown in Champions Trophy history: 9 cards (3 yellow and 6 green). Argentina’s Luciana Aymar in on 8 cards (1yellow – 7 green).