SYDNEY, 3 December 2003 — China’s young sharp-shooter Fu Baorong broke the back of Australia to avenge two losses earlier in the year with the only goal of their women’s Champions Trophy field hockey match here yesterday.
Argentina smashed through a resilient England defense for a 2-0 victory and the Netherlands beat South Korea 4-3.
Australia’s loss left it in third place on six points behind Argentina and China, both with seven points.
Fu Baorong’s solo effort saw her elude three Australian defenders in the circle before firing a backstick shot inside the right post past goalkeeper Rachel Imison in the 23rd minute.
“China has stepped up since we played them in Europe in August and their skills were good and they were sharp today,” said Australian coach David Bell.
Australia won the two August tests against China 1-0 and 2-0. “Now our next two games against Argentina and England are vital,” Bell added.
World number one Argentina beat England 2-0 after a scoreless first half.
Luciana Aymar and Soledad Garcia combined for Argentina’s first goal in the 39th minute. Aymar found more space in the second half and set up Argentina’s second goal, which was finished by Marina Di Giacomo in the 46th minute.
England’s coach Tricia Heberle said her side had played aggressively against the top-ranked side and declared herself “reasonably pleased” with England’s performance.
“Argentina is the best team here. They defend well and have two of the best players in the world as strikers and midfielders and their goalkeeping is very good too,” said Heberle.
The Netherlands took their first win of the tournament with a 4-3 victory over Korea.
The Dutch, who had earlier been beaten 2-1 by Australia and 1-0 by China, fought back from 3-2 down when Chantal de Bruijn tapped in a deflection from a 53rd minute penalty corner and Macha van der Vaart grabbed the winner nine minutes later.
Ageeth Boomgaardt converted Dutch pressure from an eighth minute penalty corner but the Dutch failed to take their chances as passes from Van der Vaart going went begging across the face of Korea’s goal.
Netherlands captain Mijntje Donners was taken off after striking a third penalty corner into the net with a slap-shot instead of a flick that was disallowed for being too high above the backboard.
Korea immediately counterattacked with Kim Seong-eun shooting low past the left glove of Dutch goalkeeper Clarinde Sinnige in the 34th minute to send the teams in level at half-time. Both sides came out blazing in the second period, scoring a goal apiece within three minutes of the restart.
Ko Kwang-min took the easiest of chances, tapping in from two meters while Dutch players were looking to the umpire to stop play after Ageeth Boomgaardt had taken a tumble. But the Dutch leveled at 2-2 a minute later, with Miek van Geenhuizen squaring from the backline for Sylvia Karres to deflect the ball into the net.
