Opening match between Argentina Australia ends in a 3-3 draw
Following a brilliant show-off from Australian women’s hockey team, the opening match between World Champions, Argentina, and Hockeyroos concluded with a 3-3 draw. The cliff-hanging contest of the Four Nations Tournament was held in Berlin, Germany on June
17, 2011.
However, it was an impressive performance from the Australian women that managed the draw against World’s Number One squad. They not only carried out splendid attacks, but also displayed dazzling defence during the game. The Hockeyroos defenders denied eight
short-corners played from the Argentinean side during the two halves. In spite of the equal results, it was a great start for the Australian team which fought bravely and gave a tough time to the defending champions.
Adam Commens, the coach of the Australian women’s squad, termed the match as a good beginning. In his views, they demonstrated wonderful performance against the Argentinean side. He stated, “Whilst both teams were below their best, there were some excellent
passages of play. It was great to see Georgie Parker score on debut. We still have significant improvements before the Champions Trophy.”
It will be a great disappointment for Argentina which had the services of Lucian Aymar, the seven-time Player of the Year award holder.
Both the squads started the game quite vividly and tested each other's defence-lines in the early minutes. However, no team succeeded to touch the score-board until the 21st minute of the match. Renee Trost, the seasoned Hockeyroos player scored
first goal of the game through a field effort. The striking players from duo sides penetrated each other in the remaining period of the first half, but to no avail.
With two minutes left in the first half of play, Georgina Parker notched a goal for Australia and doubled the tally. The Hockeyroos were leading the game by two goals at the end of the first half of half.
In the second half, the World’s Number One line-up came into action, but could only lock the horns at the end of the game. In the opening minutes, both sides found extensive opportunities, but to no avail. After an end-to-end play in the opening 15 minutes
of the second half, Soledad Garcia of Argentina marked their first goal of the game and brought her team into the score-net. But Ashleigh Nelson from Australia scored a goal in the 64th minute of the game and regained the two-goal advantage by 3-1.
However, the last six minutes were quite productive for Argentina that scored another two goals and levelled the game. In the same 64th minute, Rocio Sanchez Moccia managed to take ball at the top of the circle, struck a low-flying shot, and decreased
the lead down to a single goal.
With seconds remaining on the clock, Noel Barrionuevo of Argentina converted a penalty-stroke and tied the knots at 3-3.
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