Argentina humiliate New Zealand in second test of three match series – Women’s Hockey Update
New Zealand woman’s hockey team has been defeated by the hands of world number 1 Argentina in the second test of the three-match series being held on Monday at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium, New Zealand.
The fears of Mark Hager, the coach of the Black Sticks women, came true in which he predicted a massive defeat from Argentina in the second competition. The Argentinean women scored six goals against the solitary effort of their competitors.
The Black Sticks though were on a high after winning two straight series against Korea and Japan, but could not retain their level and were trampled by five goals. Las Leonas, the world champions displayed their top class aggressive game to New Zealand and
completely dominated the match.
The Black Sticks’ women earned some four short corners in the game, but failed to cash in on any of them. The Las Leonas contested the game with great confidence and held the ball most of the time under their sticks.
New Zealand’s experiment regarding the induction of eight new players in the team has not been successful and they faced a humiliating defeat. Argentina opened the game at a very fast pace and carried out back-to-back attacks against them.
Four minutes into the start of the game, Canada Gonzalez notched a field goal while her team-mate, Maria D’Elia doubled the tally in the next few minutes. Maria converted a classic penalty corner and put the Black Sticks under some heavy pressure. Delfina
Merino connected on a short corner in the 22nd minute and expanded the lead to three points, 3-0.
Charlotte Harrison, the fabled striker of the Black Sticks, hit a drive from top of the circle into the posts, but it was disqualified owing to a foul that occurred prior to the shot. It was a great chance for the Black Sticks to make a return into the game,
but they failed to do so.
At last the struggles of New Zealand bore fruitful results, as Cathryn Finlayson marked a goal in the 42nd minute and brought her team onto the scoreboard. She managed to take the ball far away from Argentina’s goal-keeper and marked a dribbling
hit which moved cleanly into the posts.
However, the attacking players of the visitor team were not sitting around and watching the game go by, as Maria Barrionuevo and Daniela Sruoga marked one goal apiece and stretched the lead up to four points.
Barrionuevo was awarded a yellow card in the 60th minute, but it did not stop the visitors from attacking. With one minute left on the clock, Merino converted another penalty corner and sealed the victory for Argentina at 6-1. Argentina is leading
the series 1-0 while the final contest will be played on 29 March at the Harbour Hockey Stadium.
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