(Photo: Helen Richardson celebrates her goal against Germany)The England hockey team took revenge over the German football win by beating the Germans 2-1 in a thrilling match at the Champions Trophy in Nottingham.
England drew first blood when they won a penalty corner after just three minutes, but the shot by Crista Cullen was wide.
Germany had to wait until 20 minutes into the game to earn their first penalty corner, but they appeared to take great advantage of it and walk the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead. However, England appealed the goal which was then overturned for the ejector's foot encroachment into the circle – a decision which infuriated German coach Michael Behrmann who could barely speak at the after match press conference.
Four minutes later and England won their second penalty corner. Their training set piece worked a treat as captain Kate Walsh pushed the ball to Helen Richardson at the post who had the easy task of pushing the ball in for a 1-0 lead.
It only took Germany six minutes in the second half to earn their second corner of the game, but England won a free hit. A minute later and Beth Storry made a great save from Eileen Hoffman to deny Germany the equaliser.
A great hit out of defence by Laura Unsworth gave the ball to Alex Danson with a chance to make it 2-0, but although she was able to beat the defender she could not make it past goalkeeper Barbara Vogel.
After a German appeal for a penalty corner was turned down, Vogel nearly let in Nicola White when she decided to dribble out of defence, but White's shot just skimmed past the far post.
Another corner to Germany half way through the second half was well defended by England. But with ten minutes to go England conceded a fourth corner and although they appealed again for the goal to be disallowed for a high ball, this time Natascha Keller's goal stood. 1-1.
With seven minutes remaining, England won their third corner and their second goal, in exactly the same manner as the first.
Another corner a minute later and England thought they had their third from the rebound when Hannah Macleod put the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed. However, it mattered not when the hooter when for full time with England winners over Germany 2-1.
The first victory ever for England over Germany in the Champions Trophy.
It took Argentina until seven minutes into the second half to get the ball past Bianca Russell in the New Zealand goal.
Russell made save after save from Argentine penalty corners to keep her team in the game as New Zealand failed to make the most of their attacking plays in the first half. But it was a run down the wing and fine cross by Carla Rebecchi which was ultimately touched in by Delfina Merino to open the scoring. With fifteen minutes to go it was Noel Barrionuevo with her third goal in successive matches who put the ball past Russell from Argentina's fifth penalty corner, but only when it deflected off captain Emily Naylor on the line.
Luciana Aymar made it 3-0 with five minutes to go, and Daniela Sruoga made it 4-0 with New Zealand still unable to make any headway into the Argentine defence.
It took China just five minutes to penetrate the Dutch defence when an incisive ball was pushed through to captain Fu Baorong, who calmly put the ball past goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek. China survived two penalty corner attempts by the Dutch in the first half before going into the break 1-0 in the lead.
But the lead only lasted five minutes into the second half as Maartje Paumen put the ball into the net at their third corner. China had chances of their own, but it was Paumen who put the Netherlands in the lead with another of her trademark corners to finally overcome the Chinese threat.
Table after three matches: 1. Netherlands 9pts (+6), 2. England 6 pts (-1), 3. Argentina 4 pts (+3), 4. Germany 4pts (+0), 5. China 3 (+0), 6. New Zealand 0 pts (-8).
Tomorrow is a rest day. England resume play on Thursday when they meet China. Meanwhile, Great Britain's men play Germany tomorrow at Nottingham in the Four Nations Tournament.
