Argentina won their third successive Champions Trophy, and fourth in all, with a 4-2 defeat of the Netherlands. Argentina’s goals came from three drag-flicks by Noel Barrionuevo and a field goal by Carla Rebecchi.
Kelly Jonker scored for the Dutch midway through the first half while Maartje Goderie netted a second-half consolation.
“We played well in all the six fantastic games of hockey here,” said Argentina coach Carlos Retegui.
“We countered the Netherlands’ press and forced penalty corners when we could and the penalty corner conversions by Barrionuevo were on target every time.”
Netherlands coach Herman Kruis believed his side had played well.
“I think we played a good match using a good structure, but we were not sharp enough and not clever enough in Argentina’s circle,” said Kruis.
England took bronze, their first Champions Trophy medal, by defeating Germany 2-1 to improve on their previous best fifth place while New Zealand beat China 4-3 to take fifth place.
Germany held an early first half advantage from Maike Stockel’s field goal despite four penalty corner chances to England.
England had five penalty corner opportunities in the second half, scoring from Susie Gilbert, volleying in a rebound off the pads of Germany goalkeeper Barbara Vogel, and Crista Cullen, flicking low through Vogel’s pads.
England used their video umpire appeal to reverse a penalty corner awarded to Germany with 11 minutes to play.
England coach Danny Kerry was delighted with the way his side had finished the tournament.
“They had a very tough day yesterday (drawing 2-2 against New Zealand) and when I saw the girls warming up I thought we would be fine as they had a steely look about them and they were well up for the match,” Kerry said.
Germany coach Michael Behrmann conceded England deserved to win.
“I saw a very strong England team and I think they deserved to win as we were not playing to win a third place medal,” he said.
New Zealand defeated China 4-3 to equal their best Champions Trophy performance in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
But they had to play catch-up throughout the match, chasing an equaliser after Ma Yibo converted China’s first penalty corner.
Charlotte Harrison’s scored New Zealand’s first equaliser but Zhao Yudiao restored China’s advantage for a 2-1 half-time lead.
Katie Glynn hit the second equaliser in the first five minutes of the second half, but Ma converted China’s second penalty corner for a 3-2 edge.
Pikki Hamahona levelled again for 3-3 before Gemma Flynn grabbed the winner.
China coach Kim Sang Ryul said his team was exhausted.
"The players are very tired. I can’t believe our performance, although the midfield was well organised,” said Kim.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/article557123.ece/Argentina-complete-Champions-Trophy-treble
