Match between China and England ends in a draw at 2011 Rabo FIH Champions Trophy
The third day of the Rabo FIH Women’s Champions Trophy started with a goal-less draw between England and China. The final match of the day between Netherlands and New Zealand also ended in a goal-less draw. Meanwhile in the other two matches of the day Australia
defeated Germany by a solitary goal and the match between South Korea and Argentina also resulted in a draw at 1-1.
Overall the day was not as much entertaining as the previous two days in which almost all the participants showed a better scoring rate.
The match was played in a tense situation as both the competitors had their chances throughout the match, but remained unsuccessful in converting those opportunities into scores.
The English team started the match wonderfully as they created some splendid chances in the first half, but remained unlucky on a number of occasions, because the Chinese women proved themselves more strong in their defence as compared to the pace of the
English attack. China too had their chances in the match, but they were more brilliant in their defence along with amazing saves by their goal-keeper including the penalty-stroke.
"It was a very good game and both teams fought very very hard. So it was a good challenge for the girls. The gap between that and what they play week on week is enormous," Danny Kerry, the Coach of the English side stated his views after the match against
China.
"Either team could have won it. Both had their chances. And it was a good tactical battle," he further added to his comments.
England’s best and the most perfect opportunity came just ten minutes before the conclusion of the match when they were awarded a penalty-stroke after a foul was committed by one of the Chinese defenders. However, the English team was stunned by Zhang Yimeng,
the Chinese goal-keeper when she wonderfully saved the stroke by Helen Richardson, the English skipper.
“I’ve only taken three penalty strokes in my 12 year career. I put it up in the high left corner but it was just a good save from the goal keeper,” Helen Richardson, the English skipper, told in press conference after the match.
Helen Richardson looked very disappointed over the result and her shot in the last ten minutes. The match ended at 0-0.
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