Argentina cruise past China, 4-1 in Rabo FIH Champions Trophy
The defending World Champions, Argentina, marked a 4-1 win over China in the group match of the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy, which was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands on June 26, 2011.
It was quite an interesting contest where both the teams wanted to establish their dominance on the scoreboard. Argentina landed on the field with one victory against England in hands, while China managed a draw in the opening game against Korea.
Argentina, the Las Leonas, are currently topping the Pool-A with six points.
In order to give Carla Rebecchi rest and recover from injury, Argentina dropped their star player from the game. However, they did not make changes in their game plan and opened the match in quite an offensive way. With fast and furious game, the Argentinean
team obtained a couple of short-corners in the very early minutes. But unluckily Barrionuevo missed both the chances.
Despite missing back-to-back to opportunities, the World Champions continued their fast and furious game and created another short-corner in the 16th minute of the game. Barrionuevo this time did not miss the chance and executed a well-organised
shot into the goal-post.
After conceding the maiden goal, China also started an offensive style of play and earned a short-corner in the 20th minute of the match. Zhao Yudiao slammed a low-flying shot into the Las Leonas' goal and tied the knots at one-all. The first
half of play concluded with both the line-ups at 1-1.
After a short-break, both the teams entered the field with a re-organised formation and started action in search of a tie-breaker. In matter of eight minutes, Agustina Soledad Garcia managed to take the ball to the top of the circle and unleashed a powerful
shot into the goal, taking the lead to 2-1. The solitary-goal lead ignited the players of Argentina who started back-and-forth attacks against China.
The lead further expanded in the 50th minute of the match, when Delfina Merino intercepted a pass from Luciana Aymar and chipped the ball into the Chinese goal-post. This goal further expanded the lead of up to two goals and increased pressure
on opponent Chinese women.
In the 56th minute of the game, Daniela Sruoga managed to get into the defensive circle of China, notched a goal for Argentina, and took an overwhelming three-goal lead, 4-1.
In counter-offences, the Chinese women made efforts to make a comeback into the game, but to no avail. At the completion of regular time, the World Champions straightforwardly won the contest by three goals.
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