AMSTERDAM, 17 July 2006 — Germany won its first women’s field hockey Champions Trophy here yesterday when captain Fanny Rinne flicked home a penalty corner conversion, nine seconds from the final hooter for a 3-2 win over China.
The dramatic win meant Germany added the Champions Trophy to the gold medal they won at the Athens Olympics.
Netherlands took the bronze medal in a 4-1 penalty shoot-out after being locked with Argentina at 1-1 and Australia took fifth place beating New Zealand 2-1. With two minutes left to play, and the score at 2-2, Germany earned three penalty corners with Rinne failing to convert the first two.
But her last flick hit the inside of the top bar and dropped into goal. China scored after nine minutes with Fu Ba Rong creating the chance for Li Hong Xia to drive into an empty goal after Fu had drawn out Kristina Reynolds, Germany’s young goal keeper. Germany answered two minutes later through Rinne’s deflection of Mandy Haase’s drive to goal. China regained the lead early in the second half through a penalty corner conversion by Ma Yi Bo who flicked high into goal.
But Germany answered within a minute.
Rinne created the chance with a pass to Natascha Keller in the circle. Keller beat a defender to shoot past the left pad of Zhang Yi Meng in China’s goal. China allowed Germany to get on top in the closing stages and force the penalty corners which led to victory.
Netherlands’ strength in penalty shoot outs came to the fore to win the bronze over Argentina. Mercedes Margalot and Alejandra Gulla both missed their penalty strokes in the shootout and Luciana Aymar converted Argentina’s only stroke from three attempts.
Maartje Paumen, Janneke Schopman and Kim Lammers converted, leaving captain Minke Booij to flick the fourth stroke home for a 4-1 win. Netherlands had taken the lead in regulation time through Vera Vorstenbosch but Mercedes Margalot put Argentina back in the game.
Australia’s fifth place was their worst result in 14 appearances in the tournament. They have won this competition more times than any other country (six) and is the only team to have played in all editions. They had the better of the scoreless first half against the Kiwis with four shots on goal and five penalty corners while New Zealand had one shot on goal and one penalty corner. The Aussies scored when Nikki Hudson carried across New Zealand’s defensive quarter line into the circle past three New Zealand defenders to give Donna-Lee Patrick an easy push into goal. Patrick scored again from a free hit outside the circle. Honor Dillon scored New Zealand’s only goal of the tournament following a fast break through the middle of the pitch to hit into the empty goal left vacant by Rachel Imson’s rush out to Charlotte Harrison.
