England recover to draw with Koreans, China win

ROSARIO: England had to fight back from a 14th-second goal by Kim Jong-eun to draw 1-1 with South Korea in Pool B at the women’s hockey World Cup on Friday.

Kim deflected a shot by Kim Ok-ju in open play into the net in the first attack of the match, the second of six on Friday after rain washed out Pool B play on Thursday.

Helen Richardson equalised in the second minute of the second half when she dribbled through the defence to tap in, leaving England on seven points from three matches, one ahead of hosts Argentina, who were playing Spain next.

China recovered from two surprise defeats to beat South Africa 4-1 in the first match, which began at nine a.m., and maintain slim hopes of a semi-final berth.

The Chinese also had to come back from an early setback when Jennifer Wilson gave South Africa a fourth-minute lead from a penalty corner.

China equalised with a reverse-stick tap in from Ren Ye at a penalty corner to make the halftime tally 1-1 then took control to score three more times, twice through Gao Lihua.

The three Pool A matches were scheduled to follow on from late afternoon.