Four teams in Champions Trophy contention

NOTTINGHAM: England kept alive their hopes of a final berth at the women’s Champions Trophy tournament with a 2-1 victory over China on Thursday.

It left the hosts level with table-toppers the Netherlands on nine points ahead of their meeting with winless New Zealand on Saturday.

Argentina defeated the Dutch 4-2 and currently sit level on seven points with Germany, who were 5-2 victors over New Zealand.

Each of the top four teams must now win their final games in order to reach Sunday’s final.

Ma Yibo put China on the board early in the first half against England, converting China’s first penalty corner high into the right of the goal.

England retained their composure though, negated China’s fast break and gained good field position through the remainder of the first half without scoring.

England’s deep defence kept them in the match in the second half, while the midfield set up goals for Helen Richardson and Charlotte Craddock.

England coach Danny Kerry praised his team for following his game plan.

“I am absolutely delighted the girls delivered on the game plan to the letter as they shut down China’s fast break and played cautiously in attack and defence,” Kerry said.

China coach Kim Sang Ryul conceded that England had been dominant.

“We prepared two or three things on how to attack England but their defence was too strong for us today and that is the main reason we lost,” Kim said.

The Netherlands bounced back to lead Argentina 2-1 after Noel Barrionuevo had put the South Americans ahead from a sixth-minute penalty corner.

Marilyn Agliotti finished a run along the left backline by Eva de Goede, deflecting in at the right post and Maartje Paumen flicked a penalty corner high inside the left-hand post to put the Dutch ahead.

But Delfina Merino levelled for Argentina before the break and second-half field goals by Carla Rebecchi and Rosario Luchetti secured Argentina’s victory.

“We were calm and we got what we wanted out of the game, which is a chance to play in the final,” said Argentina coach Carlos Retegui.

Netherlands coach Herman Kruis blamed tactical errors in his team’s defence as the reason for the loss.

“In the second half we had a period of 15 minutes in which we had problems with our organisation, which allowed Argentina to run to the goal and create scoring chances and at the same time our marking was not good in the circle so Argentina could score and they are the sort of mistakes you can’t make in hockey,” he said.

New Zealand leaked five goals to Germany’s Eileen Hoffmann (2), Katharina Otte, Maike Stockel and a penalty stroke by Natascha Keller before snatching a pair of late consolation strikes through Katie Glynn and Samantha Harrison.

New Zealand coach Mark Hager lamented New Zealand’s inconsistency and said he wanted to see more physicality from his players.

“We fight to the end but we are just inconsistent,” Hager said.

“Germany were more physical than us and they pushed us off the ball and we have players who are not prepared to put their body on the line.”

Germany’s coach Michael Behrmann saw positives in New Zealand’s defensive play.

“The New Zealand team defended quite well and it was very hard for us to find a way through to the circle,” he said.

The last round-robin matches on Saturday see the Netherlands face Germany, England play New Zealand and China meet Argentina.