Day 1 of the BDO FIH Hockey World Cup saw victories for Korea, England and host nation Argentina, with vast numbers of supporters turning up to watch the action.
PARK Mi Hyun scored the winning goal for Korea as they defeated China in the opening match, while Susie Gilbert scored the crucial goal to give England the victory. In the final game of the day, Luciana Aymar showed exactly why she is considered to be one of the finest players of all time with a stunning display, netting a hat-trick as her team romped to a 5-2 victory over South Africa. More information about these matches can be found below.
The BDO FIH Hockey World Cup continues tomorrow when the Pool A matches begin, with Australia, The Netherlands and Germany all in action. More information about all matches can be found on this website.
Korea get the better of China in World Cup opener
The opening match of the BDO FIH Hockey World Cup was played in glorious sunshine in Rosario, with Korea getting their tournament off to a perfect start with victory over China. PARK Mi Hyun scored the goal that proved to be decisive, giving the Korean team a vital three points at the start of this competition.
China took the lead in the 11th minute of the match when ZHAO Yudiao scored from open play, netting the first goal of the BDO FIH HOckey World Cup. It was a lead that China fully deserved, and the Olympic Silver medallists nearly extended their advantage in the 19th minute when SONG Qing Ling fired just wide of the target. Korea were playing a couter-attacking game against their opponents, a plan which produced an excellent result when Young Ran KIM deflected into the net from close range tie the scores in the 23rd minute to spark a big cheer from the many Korea supporters in the stadium.
Korea took the lead for the first time in the match early in the second half when PARK Mi Hyun scored a sensational solo effort which saw her drift down the left, evade a number of Chinese tackles before finishing brilliantly with a reverse stick flick from a seemingly impossible angle. The goal gave Korea the confidence to push forward, putting the China defence under great pressure for long periods. China fought hard to get an equaliser in the latter stages of the game, but it was Korea who held on for the victory.
Match Review 1 - China v Korea 1-2
> Korea remain unbeaten in 7 FIH matches in 2010. They have now recorded 6 wins and 1 draw in World Cup qualifying and World Cup this year.
> Korea handed China their fifth successive defeat in major international tournaments, after having suffered four defeats in row at the 2010 Champions Trophy.
> China’s Zhao Yudiao opened the score. She has now scored in all three major tournaments Olympics, Champions Trophy and World Cup.
> China have now lost the last four matches in which they went 1-0 up (3 CT matches and 1 WC match).
> Park Mi-Hyun (KOR) scored the winning goal for Korea. She also netted against China in the Final 9-10 at the 2006 World Cup, which Korea also won 2-1.
England continue fine form with victory against Spain
England continued their fine recent form by opening their BDO FIH Hockey World Cup campaign with a victory over European rivals Spain. Alex Danson - who was playing her 100th international match for England - was amongst the scorers as the Champions Trophy Bronze Medallists claimed victory despite falling behind to an early Spain strike.
The opening scorer of the match was Gloria COMERMA, who fired in a powerful penalty corner strike which stunned England in the fourth minute of the match. However, England immediately went on the offensive and were soon level when Alex DANSON scored tapped in from close range to celebrate her 100th England cap in style. England moved into a 2-1 lead seven minutes before the break when Crista CULLEN slammed in a typical penalty corner flick, but Spain were level in the 31str minute when Carlota PETCHAME scored a glorious deflection. However, England regained the advantage on the stroke of half time thanks to a field goal from Susie GILBERT.
The second half saw many chance for both teams, with Spain's Gloria COMERMA and Silvia MUNOZ both failing to convert good chances for their team. England had a chance to extend their advantage in the 66th minute, but could not score their penalty corner opportunity. Nevertheless it was to be a win for an England team that appears to be growing in confidence with every tournament.
Match Review 2 - Spain v England 2-3
> England start their 2010 World Cup campaign with a win, like they did at each of the previous three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006).
> England led 3-2 at half-time. The last time England scored three goals in the first half at a World Cup tournament was 16 years ago, at the 1994 World Cup, when they led Canada 3-0 at half-time.
> Gloria Comerma (ESP) scored the first penalty corner goal at the 2010 World Cup in the third minute of the match.
> Comerma also scored a third minute PC goal in last year’s Champions Challenge match against Italy.
> Alex Danson scored the equaliser for England; she has now scored 1 goal in each of the last three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010).
> Crista Cullen scored her 7th career goal in major FIH tournaments all from penalty corners. She has now scored at the 2006 World Cup, 2008 Olympics, 2010 Champions trophy and 2010 World Cup.
Aymar treble sinks South Africa
Luciana AYMAR scored a brilliant treble to guide Argentina to an impressive win over South Africa in front of wild and vociferous home crowd. Las Leonas surged to a 5-2 victory against the Rainbow Nation, with AYMAR's showing that she is in fine form as her team aim to win the BDO FIH Hockey World Cup on home soil.
Argentina's Noel Barrionuevo - who top scored at the recent Champions Trophy tournament in Nottingham, England - netted the first goal of the game, sending a penalty corner effort into the goal in the 16th minute. However, Pietee Coetzee marked her return to World Level events with a penalty corner of her own in the 22nd minute.
The second half of the match exploaded into life early when Luciana AYMAR scored the first of her three goals, firing in from open play in the 37th minute to spark jubilant celebrations from the fans. Two minutes later, AYMAR scored again from open play before completing her hat-trick in the 63rd minute with a blistering penalty corner strike. South Africa's Vida RYAN pulled a goal back for her team with a fierce strike into the roof of the net from the top of the circle, but the result was put beyond all doubt when Marine RUSSO netted from open play with just over a minute remaining.
The result was good enough to put Argentina at the top of Pool B, ahead of England and Korea - also winners on day 1 - on goal difference.
Match Review 3 - Argentina v South Africa 5-2
> Las Leonas started their 2010 World Cup campaign with a win over South Africa. This victory marked their first win over SA in World Cup, Champions Trophy and Olympic competition.
> Luciana Aymar scored a hat-trick today to become the first player since Maria de la Paz Hernández in the 2006 Bronze medal match to score three goals in a World Cup match.
> Argentina go top in Pool B after day 1, leading England and Korea on goal difference.
> Seven goals were scored in this match. At the 2006 World Cup only two matches saw 7 goals being scored: CHN-NED 1-6 and KOR-AUS 3-4.
> Noel Barrionuevo scored her 13th goal in all FIH tournaments since the 2008 Olympics.
> Barrionuevo is the first ARG player to score against South Africa since Rosario Luchetti at the 2006 World Cup (2-2).
> Pietie Coetzee scored her 17th goal in 17 World Cup matches. She is the competition top scorer among players present at the 2010 World Cup.
