Korea defeat China on penalty strokes to finish 7th
7/8 classification – CHN 3 – 3 KOR (2 - 3 PSO)

Korea defeated China 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after they have fought back from being down 0-3 in the 7/8 classification match at the Argentina FIH Champions Trophy in Rosario.

China started off with great pace as they really wanted to finish 7^th place. It took them six minutes until they have won their first penalty corner which resulted in the 1-0 lead thanks to Ma Yibo’s (7’) drag-flick. Korean defender Han Hye Lyoung was sent back to the mid-line after breaking early which gave China more space. Five minutes later it was Ma (12’) again doubling the lead. Korean goalkeeper Jang Soo-Ji still had a touch at Ma's flick but she deflected the ball unluckily into the net. The confident Chinese continued to attack with pace and created a three on one which led to a goal by Zhao Yudiao (15’). She had waited at the far post, picked up a pass and scored with a reverse stick shot.

After Korea had replied thanks to Kim Jong-Eun (19’) they substituted their goalkeepers. Number one keeper Moon Young-Hui came for Jang but wasn’t called into action in the remainder of the first half. Instead it was Korea who scored again after Hong Yoo-Jin (31’) converted a penalty corer variation. The match went into halftime with a score of 3-2 in favor of China.

The ball was very slow at the beginning of the second half as heavy rainfall has occurred and slowed down the game. Despite of the wet weather conditions Korea pressured China and created some promising opportunities. One of them led to their fourth penalty corner in this match which was converted by Kim Jong-Hee (51’). China took their team referral on this decision to check whether the ball was played dangerously in the circle. However, the equaliser was confirmed by the video umpire meaning that China had given away a convincing 3-0 lead.

After the score was tied 3-3 Korea wanted more and put China under pressure. Kim Jong-Hee won them another penalty corner after she was tackled by Ma Wei. The Chinese defender was sent off with a yellow card afterwards. From this point on the match could have gone either way with both teams missing to convert great opportunities.

This was the 4th match at Rosario 2012 to go into extra-time and the second match for Korea who have lost to Japan 3-4 in the Qualification Match 5/8. As nobody scored in extra-time the encounter was decided in a penalty shoot-out. Korea were the lucky winners thanks to goals from Han Hye-Lyoung, Lee Seon-Ok and Kim Jong-Eun.

Match Review 21. Final 7-8 China - Korea 3-3 (2-3 PSO)

> Korea needed a penalty shoot-out to win their first knock-out match in CT history.

> Before today, Korea were winless in 9 knock-out matches played in CT competition, recording 7 defeats and 2 draws. The two matches that were tied, they eventually lost after penalty strokes in the 2003 3^rd place play-off vs ENG and in the 1995 Final vs Australia.

> China finish bottom of the ranking for the first time since 2010, when they finished 6^th 0f 6.

> Korea took revenge for losing the 2010 Asian Games final to China on penalty strokes, following a goalless draw.

> Ma Yibo scored twice to lift her CT career total to 22 CT goal. Only Maartje Paumen (25) and Noel Barrionuevo (24) have scored more CT goals.

> Kim Jong-Eun scored her fifth CT career goal and her 2nd at Rosario 2012. All 5 of her previous CT goals came in matches vs New Zealand.

> China scored 2 of 5 penalty corners in this match and finish Rosario 2012 on 6 for 27 (22%).

> Korea converted 2 of 6 penalty corners and finish the tournament on 6 for 31 (19%).

Match Preview 21. Final 7-8 China - Korea (February 5th, 12:30pm)

Head-to-Heads

> China have won 2 of 4 Champions Trophy matches against Korea, drawing 1 and losing 1.

> Korea only won their first CT encounter with China (1-0) in 1991.

> China beat Korea 2-0 in 2003 and 1-0 in 2005.

> In their last encounter at the 2011 CT China came back from 2 goals down to draw 2-2, goals scored by Cheon Eun-Bi, Kim Jong-Hee, Zhao Yudia (PC) and Mao Weilin (PC).

> Their last meeting in a knock-out match came in the 2010 Asian Games final which China won after penalty strokes following a goalless draw.

China

> China are the highest ranked Asian team on the world ranking in fifth place.

> China are in the Final 7-8 for the second year in succession. In 2011 they beat Germany 5-3 to claim 7th place.

> China are the 2010 Asian Games Champions.

> Ma Yibo (20 goals) is China’s all-time top scorer in CT competition. All her 20 goals came from penalty corners. Only Maartje Paumen and Noel Barrionuevo have scored more PC goals in CT competition.

> By scoring against Argentina, 35-year-old Tang Chunling became the oldest goalscorer for China in CT history.

> China have now failed to win a medal in 5 successive CT participations. Their last CT medal dates back to 2006 when they claimed silver losing 3-2 to Germany in the final.

> China are on 4 for 26 penalty corners in the tournament (15%).

> China have conceded 5 from 26 penalty corners awarded against them (19%).

Korea

> Korea are ranked 8th on the FIH World Ranking.

> Korea have finished last in a CT edition 4 times: 1991, 1999, 2003 and 2005 they were ranked sixth and last.

> If they finish 8th this year, Korea break the record for most wooden spoon awards, which they now share with New Zealand.

> Korea are winless in 9 knock-out matches played in CT competition, recording 7 defeats and 2 draws. The two matches that were tied, they eventually lost after penalty strokes.

> Korea have failed to win 7 successive CT matches (5 defeats – 2 draws) since beating New Zealand 5-3 in 2011 CT Champions Group C.

> The 5-3 win over the Black Stick in 2011 is Korea’s only win in their last 20 Champions Trophy matches.

> Korea finished fourth in last year’s CT, despite only winning one of its six matches at the tournament.

> Korea are on 4 for 25 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (16%).

> Korea have conceded 6 PC goals from 17 penalty corners awarded to their opponents (35%).

> Lee Seon-Ok is on 5 goals at Rosario 2012. The Korean record for most goals scored in a CT tournament is 8 by Lim Kye-Sook in 1987.

> Lee Seon-Ok is on a 3-match scoring streak at Rosario 2012. The Korean record of scoring in 4 successive CT matches is held by Lim Kye-Sook (1987-1989).

> At age 31 Lee Seon-Ok is also Korea’s oldest goalscorer in CT competition.

> Midfielder Kim Da-Rae was selected in the FIH 2011 Women’s All Star team.