SYDNEY, 7 December 2003 — Australia won a berth in the finals today against China with a decisive 5-0 win over South Korea in the women’s Champions Trophy field hockey tournament here yesterday.
Australia leapfrogged Argentina into the final after The Netherlands held Argentina to a 3-3 draw in the earlier match and England drew 2-2 with China.
China completed the round robin with 11 points, Australia 10, Argentina 9, The Netherlands and England both with four and South Korea with three.
International Hockey Federation rankings have China fourth and Australia third, with Argentina on top and The Netherlands second, though the results from this tournament will change the rankings.
“These results show the closeness of the teams in this tournament where you have the places in the final decided in the last two round-robin games,” said Australia’s coach, David Bell.
Three goals between the 25th and 29th minutes of the first half sank South Korea’s dream of an upset.
Peta Gallagher, playing her 50th match for Australia and on her birthday, set up Katrina Powell’s goal by shrugging off three defenders and driving a pass to Powell to deflect into goal unchallenged at the right post.
Angie Skirving converted Australia’s second penalty corner with a drag flick high into the right side of the net and Louise Dobson put in Australia’s third penalty corner with a deflection off a South Korean stick a minute later. Australia did not allow South Korea into the match and South Korea played without confidence throughout.
Julie Towers and Wendy Alcorn each scored second half goals for the emphatic 5-0 win.
Argentina found a huge hole in The Netherlands defense early in their match when Magdalena Aicega’s pass from the backfield found Soledad Garcia free at the Dutch quarter line with only Clarinde Sinnige in goal to beat.
Garcia ran right, faked two shots and drove a lightning bolt shot past Sinnige.
Ageeth Boomgaardt hit back a minute later, converting The Netherlands’ second penalty corner with a drag flick into the top of the net inside the right post.
Marina di Giacomo took Argentina to a 2-1 lead with a backstick shot 20 minutes into the second half to set up a pulsating final six minutes of play.
Dutch captain Mijntje Donners brought the scores level with a thunderbolt drive inside the right post off a penalty corner and striker Eefke Mulder put them in front three minutes from time with a backstick drive.
In the last two minutes, the Dutch conceded a penalty stroke at the attempted conversion of a penalty corner and Mercedes Margalot converted the stroke.
In the earlier match, England drew 2-2 with China, ensuring the latter a place in the final. China lacked speed and aggression while England showed commitment and strength of ball retention not previously seen in this tournament.
Anna Bennett scored for England 10 minutes into each half while China scored from two set piece goals in the 23rd and 27th minutes from Q.Y. Chen and Tang Chunling.
In final classification matches today, Korea and England play for fifth place, The Netherlands and Argentina play for third place and China meet Australia for first place.
