The FIH Championships Trophy #CT2014 got underway on…
First up was Netherlands v China on Saturday 29th. Maartje Paumen got her Champions Trophy off to the perfect start with a penalty corner double and three points to the World Champions over a battling Chinese team. In the second game, New Zealand beat Japan 2-1 as Olivia Merry (46′) and Ella Gunson (51′) both scored in the final quarter of the second match of the Champions Trophy to take all three points in a tight game against Japan.
The clean sheet put the Dutch girls in pole position after Day 1 in Pool A.
England and Germany are both in Pool B and and both ended Day 1 on nil points, England falling to Australia 2-1 and the Germans losing to the hosts Argentina 1-0. It was a passionate home crowd that greeted Luciana Aymar as she took to the field for her first appearance at this year’s Champions Trophy, her last International tournament as the legend has announced that she will retire on home soil at the end of the Champions Trophy. Agustin Habif was the player who made sure that Lucha’s night ended on a good note as she slotted home the winning goal in the 52nd minute.
Day 2 and the Dutch girls faced a fierce opposition from the New Zealand Black Sticks. Dutch stalwart Ellen Hoog said “We made enough chances, I was never worried that we would lose the game, it was more of a case of how we could win it.” But the win eluded them and the 1-1 draw was still enough to keep the Dutch team on top of Pool A as China and Japan also played out a 1-1 draw.
An interesting afternoon in Menzosa as Argentina and Australia drew (1-1) along with Germany and England (1-1). Goal of the day coming from Germany’s Hillman.
Upcoming games today:
15:30 ENG v ARG
18:00 CHN v NZL
20:30 NED v JPN