ATHENS, 15 August 2004 — Australia’s bid to win a third successive Olympic women’s field hockey title stumbled at the first hurdle yesterday when they crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Germany.

The other favored contenders, however, came through unscathed on the opening day as world champions Argentina toyed with Spain 4-0, the Netherlands hammered South Africa 6-2 and China blanked Asian rivals Japan 3-0.

The Hockeyroos looked a pale shadow of the dream team that swept gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games and at home in Sydney four years later under their former coach Ric Charlesworth.

The Germans, ranked seventh in the world, dominated the first half to be rewarded with goals from four-time Olympian Nadine Ernsting in the 21st minute and Silke Mueller just before half-time.

Julie Towers narrowed the margin 13 minutes before the final whistle, but a last-ditch effort by Australia to share points was thwarted by the tough German defense.

Since Charlesworth left the team after the Sydney Olympics, the Hockeyroos failed to defend the 2002 World Cup against Argentina, but bounced back to win the Champions Trophy last year under new coach David Bell.

German coach Markus Weise said he was not surprised at his team’s victory. “Before the game, I told the girls to put all their energies into the match and the result will come,” Weise said.

“That is exactly what happened. Australia are not the dominant team they were but remain a very good side. It takes a lot to beat them and I am delighted we did that today.”

Powell, the Australian captain who played at both Atlanta and Sydney, admitted the defeat gave her a strange feeling.

“I have not been in this position before at the Olympics,” she said. “We were unbeatable then so this is certainly something new. I am disappointed, but not panicking yet. We have it in us to put it all back together and hopefully this result will not matter at the end.”

Meanwhile, Dutch captain Mijntje Donners struck a hat trick to lead her team to an emphatic win over South Africa.

Donners, the 2003 International Hockey Federation player of the year, dominated the Group B match after opening her account with a penalty corner in the sixth minute.

The 30-year-old added one more goal in the first half, which ended with the Dutch 5-1 up, and then scored soon after the interval with a scoop from the right of the circle.

“It is nice to get a four-goal difference in the first match, but we should not have allowed them to get the second goal,” said Donners, a veteran of 229 internationals.

The Chinese, ranked fourth in the world, led 1-0 at half-time against Japan and then sealed the Group A match with two strikes after the interval.

There was none of the hostility that marked the ill-tempered Asian Cup men’s football final between the two nations in Beijing a week ago which Japan won 3-1.

China, who won the elite Champions Trophy in 2002, scored through Fu Baorong, Tang Chunling and Chen Qiuqi.

Argentina showed why they are the most feared team in world hockey as they pumped in three goals in the first half against Spain and added a fourth a minute before the final whistle.

The scorers for Argentina were Ayelen Stepnik, Cecilia Rognoni, Soledad Garcia and Paula Oneto.