(Photo: Charlotte Craddock waits to receive a pass from Ashleigh Ball to give England a 2-0 lead).England beat China for the first time ever in the Women's Champions Trophy by winning by 2-1.
Eleven minutes into the game and the first penalty corner went to China. Up stepped Ma Yibo to score with a good drag flick past Beth Storry. England had to wait until eleven minutes from half time to win their first penalty corner of the half when pressure from Laura Unsworth paid off. But China cleared and ended the first half 1-0 in the lead.
Nine minutes into the second half England won their second penalty corner which they used to good effect. This time Crista Cullen's shot was saved but the rebound was put into the net by Helen Richardson, for her third goal of the tournament.
Half way into the second half and a super run by Ashleigh Ball into the circle, skimming three Chinese defenders en route, saw her cross met by Charlotte Craddock to give England a 2-1 lead and Craddock her first goal in an England shirt.
England's third corner saw Kate Walsh's shot saved by the keeper.
With five minutes to go China's captain was given a yellow card and she joined Gao Lihua on the bench and England ran down the clock in China's half for an historic win and a guaranteed medal place play off. A win on Saturday will put England into the final and a chance to win gold.
Germany took the lead in the thirteenth minute with a goal from Eileen Hoffmann and never looked like being beaten in a very one-sided match, although at half time the penalty corner tally was 3-1 in favour of New Zealand. Katharina Otte with a penalty corner and another field goal by Hoffmann gave Germany a 3-0 lead at half time.
When Maike Stockel made it 4-0 and then a penalty stroke from Natascha Keller it looked all over. However, New Zealand had other ideas. With ten minutes to go Gemma Flynn had the best chance of the half for New Zealand when she took the ball at the top of the circle and past the defence, but her shot was just past the post. But a quickly taken free hit from Kate Mahon who pushed the ball through to Katie Glynn to score through the keeper's legs and put New Zealand on the score sheet with just seven minutes remaining.
Three minutes left and a mistake by the German defence let in Samantha Harrison who rounded the keeper and her reverse stick shot flew into the net to make the final score 5-2.
Argentina bounced back into contention to retain their Champions Trophy title with a 4-2 win over The Netherlands.
It only took six minutes for Noel Barrionuevo to score her fourth penalty corner of the tournament to put Argentina into the lead.
The lead lasted all of three minutes before a cross after a super run along the back line by Eva de Goede was put in the net by Marilyn Agliotti.
Maartje Paumen scored her fourth penalty corner of the tournament to give The Netherlands the lead, but three minutes from time it was all level again after a strike by Marina Delfino.
The second half was end to end with Argentina having the edge. It was Argentina who took the lead nearly half way through with a back stick hit from Carla Rebecchi. Then with fifteen minutes remaining Argentina made it 4-2 with a super run along the back line from Agustina Soledad Garcia and goal from Rosario Luchetti.
Any one of four teams can now make the final, much depending on the first game on Saturday when The Netherlands take on Germany. Argentina take on China and England wrap up the group games with a game against New Zealand who have failed to score a point as yet.
Positions after four matches: 1. Netherlands 9 pts (+4), 2. ENGLAND 9 pts (+0), 3. Argentina 7 pts (+5), 4. Germany 7 (+3), 5. China 3 pts (-1), 6. New Zealand 0pts (-11).
