ROSARIO, Argentina, 9 November 2004 — Athens Olympic champions Germany ground out an emphatic 2-0 win over world champions Argentina in the Champions Trophy women’s field hockey championship here on Sunday.
Netherlands topped the table after scoring their second win with a narrow 2-1 win over Australia.
And New Zealand recovered from their opening 6-0 defeat to Argentina to hold China 1-1.
Kerstin Hoyer slotted home from close range to open the scoring for Germany on 40 minutes after a tight first half and captain Marion Rodewald blasted in a penalty corner on 56 minutes to put the issue beyond doubt.
Chantal de Bruijn’s 45th minute penalty corner strike and Maartje Scheepstra’s 61st minute drive won the match for the Dutch after Jessica Arrold had given Australia an 8th minute lead from a penalty corner.
Chen Quiqi put China ahead in the 10th minute but Tara Draysdale earned New Zealand a share of the points with a 27th minute equalizer.
Olympic bronze medalists Argentina started brightly but gradually Germany’s tight marking took the edge off their game.
“We were better organized and took our chances,” was how Germany coach Markus Weise summed up the game.
Netherlands coach Marc Lammers rued a string of missed chances which kept Australia in the game.
“We got into twice as many scoring positions as they did but didn’t take our chances. However, we’re grateful for the win because we deserved it.”
Argentina will probably need to beat the Dutch on Thursday to get into Sunday’s final.
They will be eager for revenge having lost in an extra-time tie-breaker to the Netherlands in the Athens Games semifinals.
Germany face the Netherlands in their last league game on Saturday and the two countries appear set for the gold medal showdown.
China are not yet showing the form which took them to the Athens semifinals where they lost to eventual winners Germany in an extra-time tie-breaker. They have a chance to avenge that defeat in today’s league games.
