Sole goal gives Hockeyroos victory

Match Review AUS - CHN 1-0

Watch clips from the Australia - China game at the…Posted December 5, 2015

A goal by one of the newer recruits to the Hockeyroo squad was the difference between Australia and China in the first Pool B match of the Argentina Hockey World League Final.

A see-saw first half between two very stylistically different nations saw both teams make some tentative incursions into each other's scoring ends but with no clear scoring opportunity created.

The second quarter saw some good attacking play from Australia, with Gabrielle Nance unlucky not to see her nifty lifted ball find the back of the net. On the counter attack, Zhao Yudiao had a quick break, but after running the length of the pitch, she was unable to put any quality into the final manoeuvre. A strong tackle by an Australian defender put paid to her chance.

The game really opened up as China began to find space across the pitch. Likewise, Australia were quick on the counter attack and it seemed inevitable that one team would eventually find a breakthrough.

It was China who came closest in the dying minutes of the second quarter. De Jiaojiao just failing to latch onto a blistering pass that eluded Hockeyroo's 'keeper Rachael Lynch.

The second half saw more chances fall to both sides. Peng Yang found the back of the net but the goal was disallowed, while Kat Slattery came close for Australia but her shot flew wide.

The stalemate was finally broken in the 43rd minute when Georgina Morgan slammed a penalty corner deep into the goal past Li Dongxiao. This was Morgan's first goal at top international level on her 19th appearance for the senior squad.

Throughout the game, China continued to keep the pressure on the world number two side, but, despite some structured attacking play that made the Australia side dig deep, there was to be no reward for their endeavours.

Speaking after the game, Australia captain Madonna Blyth said; "I think we played pretty well, but it was a little difficult out there. We can celebrate this game, but sure, there are things we can improve upon."

Goals

Team	Minute	Shirt #	Player	Action	Score
AUS	43	17	MORGAN Georgina	PC	1 - 0

Cards

Team	Minute	Shirt #	Player	Type
CHN	39	20	SUN Xiao	G
AUS	53	18	CLAXTON Jane	G
AUS	54	13	BONE Edwina	Y
CHN	55	7	CUI Qiuxia	Y
CHN	59	8	WU Mengrong	Y

AUS

Minute	Shirt #	Name	Goals	Green	Yellow
5	1	NANCE Gabrielle
X	2	NANSCAWEN Georgia
4	3	PERIS Brooke
16	5	WELLS Ashlee
X	6	DWYER Kirstin
X	7	KENNY Jodie
3	8	NELSON Ashleigh
7	10	FITZPATRICK Madison
X	11	McMAHON Karri
X	12	BLYTH Madonna
5	13	BONE Edwina			1
X	17	MORGAN Georgina	1
X	18	CLAXTON Jane		1
X	20	SLATTERY Kathryn
Bench	21	TAYLOR Renee
X	24	WILLIAMS Mariah
X	26	SMITH Emily
X	27	LYNCH Rachael

CHN

Minute	Shirt #	Name	Green	Yellow
X	1	LI Dongxiao
X	2	WANG Mengyu
X	6	DE Jiaojiao
X	7	CUI Qiuxia		1
7	8	WU Mengrong		1
X	10	PENG Yang
X	11	LIANG Meiyu
5	15	ZHONG Mengling
6	16	OU Zixia
6	18	WU Qiong
X	19	ZHANG Xiaoxue
X	20	SUN Xiao	1
3	21	ZHAO Yudiao
X	25	BAO Qianqian
X	27	YU Qian
X	28	LI Jiaqi
6	29	ZHANG Jinrong
Bench	32	YE Jiao

DNP = Did not participate
S = Suspended
DSQ = Disqualified

Match Officials

Role	Official
Umpire 1	YAMADA Emi
Umpire 2	IPARRAGUIRRE Soledad
Reserve Umpire	PRESENQUI Irene
Video Umpire	METCHETTE Carol
Judge 1	SHIN Jung Hee
Judge 2	AKII-BUA Nataki
Technical Officer	PIGRETTI Laura

Pool A

Pool B

AUS V CHN ( Pool B ) Hockey World League Final Rosario 2015