Argentina edge past Black Sticks Women by 3-2 to go into 200 Rabo FIH Champions Trophy Finals
Luciana Aymar and Agustina Soledad Garcia were at their best, as the Las Leonas powered a 3-2 victory over women’s hockey team of New Zealand in the final Pool-C fixture of the 2011 Rabo FIH Women's Champions Trophy. The cliff-hanging contest between Argentina and New Zealand was held on July 02, 2011 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The Las Leonas had a better track record in the previous Pool C games with one victory, one loss and a draw. On the other hand the Black Sticks Women lost two games while drew one in the last three appearances.
Argentina after making a successful appeal, confirmed their place in finals of the FIH Champions Trophy and will face the host Netherlands.
The Las Leonas opened the game quite luminously and accomplished to-and-fro attacks against Black Sticks. In results of the back and forth strikes, the Las Leonas established their dominance on the field in the 14th minute of the match. Veteran Argentinean player, Agustina Soledad Garcia, made a superb move and took the ball inside the D-Line. She slammed a high-flying flicking shot at the top of the net and scored the maiden goal for Las Leonas. Sally Rutherford, the goalie from Black Sticks, made a sharp effort to clear the ball, but failed to judge the direction of the short.
The combination of Luciana Aymar and Garcia was displaying splendid game on the field. With the brace of Garcia, Aymar managed to get the ball inside the defensive-circle and chipped it in the Black Sticks goal in the 24th minute of the match.
Garcia was unmatched in the game against New Zealand. She rendered her efforts in third goal of the day. She managed to get the ball at the top of the circle and unleashed a powerful shot into the goal. However the hit was saved by Kiwi's custodian. Rocio Sanchez Moccia took the rebound and simply sent it into the goal and increased the lead up to three goals, 3-0.
After conceding three goals, the Black Sticks attack came alive, but failed to create much difference. In the dying moments of the first half, Clarissa Eshuis converted a short-corner and reduced the lead down to two goals, 3-1 at the end of the first half.
The second half of play was quite low scoring as compared to first one, as only one goal was scored from New Zealand that could not save them from defeat. Charlotte Harrison scored off a short-corner in the 37th minute of the match and reduced the lead down to a single goal, 3-2.
However, it was final action of the match and second half concluded with the Las Leonas coming out victorious at 3-2.
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