Hockey: Argentina edge out brave Brits

Great Britain women, playing in their first ever Champions Trophy final, had to settle for the silver medal last night after going down 1-0 to hosts Argentina in a highly-charged atmosphere in Rosario.

As in the previous three games, two Scots in the line-up, Emily Maguire started while Laura Bartlett came on as a substitute, but again Abi Walker watched proceedings from the stand as Reading’s Beth Storry was in goal.

Argentina were the more adventurous side in the first half encouraged by a noisy and partisan crowd. The home side created several chances including six penalty corners, and it was from the sixth set piece that Argentina took the lead, Silvina D’Elia’s shot went through British goalkeeper Storry into the net.

Towards the end of the half GB created a few chances, Sarah Thomas won Britain’s first penalty corner two minutes from the end but Crista Cullen’s shot was saved on the line by an Argentine defender.

The second half was an end-to-end contest with Argentina inspired by their playmaker Luciana Aymar, but neither side created clear-cut chances to score. The Brits defended well with Storry having to look lively to keep out two Argentina penalty corners. Great Britain’s only real chance came in the dying seconds, but Alex Danson’s effort flashed across the face of the goal, leaving Argentina to play out the game for a narrow win to the delight of the crowd.

Earlier, the Netherlands completed a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down to take the bronze after beating Germany 5-4 in the third-place play-off.

Britain earned their historic final appearance, which will give great confidence ahead of the London Olympics, with a disciplined 2-0 win over a rather lacklustre Germany in the searing heat on Saturday. Argentina eliminated the Dutch 2-0 in a penalty shoot-out, the match having finished 2-2 in normal time.

It took GB only 12 minutes to take the lead. Kate Walsh’s shot at the first penalty corner was blocked by the keeper, the ball fell to Bartlett at the top of the circle and her pass found Sarah Thomas, who took her time to squeeze a shot past Yvonne Frank in the German goal. Further chances fell to Bartlett and Danson, but there was no further scoring before the interval.

GB then shocked the Germans with a second goal only four minutes into the second-half. The penalty corner was won by Chloe Rogers and it looked as if Walsh’s shot was going wide of the target only for Slough’s Ashleigh Ball to nip in and deflect the ball into the empty net. This initiated a period of intense German pressure but Storry and her defence held firm despite losing Helen Richardson, who spent five minutes in the sin bin.

In desperation, the German coach replaced his keeper with a “kicking back” to give himself an extra outfield player, but Great Britain survived the final seven minutes and there were joyous celebrations at the final hooter.

After the match, British head coach Danny Kerry said: “It was a controlled win in exceptionally hot conditions. We have shown great maturity today in coming out and doing the business in a semi-final.”

Captain Walsh added: “We knew it would be a tough game and we knew we had to concentrate and be disciplined.

“We took our chances well, we were clinical, and I’m proud of the team for this.”