Monday, August 30, 2010

Luciana hat-trick inspires Argentina

Day 1 of the BDO FIH Hockey World Cup saw victories for Korea, England and host nation Argentina, with vast numbers of supporters turning up to watch the action. PARK Mi Hyun scored the winning goal for Korea as they defeated China in the opening match, while Susie Gilbert scored the crucial goal to give England the victory. In the final game of the day, Luciana Aymar showed exactly why she is considered to be one of the finest players of all time with a stunning display, netting a hat-trick as her team romped to a 5-2 victory over South Africa.
Match Review 1 - China v Korea 1-2

> Korea remain unbeaten in 7 FIH matches in 2010. They have now recorded 6 wins and 1 draw in World Cup qualifying and World Cup this year.
> Korea handed China their fifth successive defeat in major international tournaments, after having suffered four defeats in row at the 2010 Champions Trophy.
> China’s Zhao Yudiao opened the score. She has now scored in all three major tournaments Olympics, Champions Trophy and World Cup.
> China have now lost the last four matches in which they went 1-0 up (3 CT matches and 1 WC match).
> Park Mi-Hyun (KOR) scored the winning goal for Korea. She also netted against China in the Final 9-10 at the 2006 World Cup, which Korea also won 2-1.

Match Review 2 - Spain v England 2-3
> England start their 2010 World Cup campaign with a win, like they did at each of the previous three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006).
> England led 3-2 at half-time. The last time England scored three goals in the first half at a World Cup tournament was 16 years ago, at the 1994 World Cup, when they led Canada 3-0 at half-time.
> Gloria Comerma (ESP) scored the first penalty corner goal at the 2010 World Cup in the third minute of the match.
> Comerma also scored a third minute PC goal in last year’s Champions Challenge match against Italy.
> Alex Danson scored the equaliser for England; she has now scored 1 goal in each of the last three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010).
> Crista Cullen scored her 7th career goal in major FIH tournaments all from penalty corners. She has now scored at the 2006 World Cup, 2008 Olympics, 2010 Champions trophy and 2010 World Cup.

Match Review 3 - Argentina v South Africa 5-2
> Las Leonas started their 2010 World Cup campaign with a win over South Africa. This victory marked their first win over SA in World Cup, Champions Trophy and Olympic competition.
> Luciana Aymar scored a hat-trick today to become the first player since Maria de la Paz Hernández in the 2006 Bronze medal match to score three goals in a World Cup match.
> Argentina go top in Pool B after day 1, leading England and Korea on goal difference.
> Seven goals were scored in this match. At the 2006 World Cup only two matches saw 7 goals being scored: CHN-NED 1-6 and KOR-AUS 3-4.
> Noel Barrionuevo scored her 13th goal in all FIH tournaments since the 2008 Olympics.
> Barrionuevo is the first ARG player to score against South Africa since Rosario Luchetti at the 2006 World Cup (2-2).
> Pietie Coetzee scored her 17th goal in 17 World Cup matches. She is the competition top scorer among players present at the 2010 World Cup.