Great Britain secure second pool win in Rosario

A penalty corner double from Crista Cullen and a
goal from Slough’s Ashleigh Ball helped Great Britain to a 3-1
victory over China, the Olympic silver medallists, at the Champions
Trophy in Rosario.
The result, coupled with the Netherlands’ earlier
4-1 defeat of Japan, leaves Great Britain second in Pool A, behind
the Dutch on goals scored.  Great Britain’s quarter final
opponents on Thursday will be the side finishing third in Pool B,
to be determined on Tuesday evening.
Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry returned to the
starting line-up, as did EuroCanterbury’s Natalie Seymour; Abi
Walker and Bowdon Hightown’s Sally Walton sat the match out.
As early as the fifth minute, Leicester defender
Cullen showed her penalty corner prowess once again as she
converted from Great Britain’s first opportunity, although Chinese
goalkeeper Zhang Liu would have been disappointed to see the ball
go through her legs en route.
Great Britain survived a slight scare in the tenth
minute when the ball ended up in the back of the British goal after
Tang Chunling tried to latch on to a cross into the circle.
 Although no goal was given Tang appealed to the video umpire
claiming she had touched the ball inside the circle on its way
through.  The video umpire however declared that no decision
was possible from the replay and it remained 1-0.
As the half progressed Great Britain won two
penalty corners but Zhang was up to the task and it remained 1-0 at
the break.
In the 42nd minute, Cullen netted her second.
 This time striking the ball from a penalty corner, her effort
came up off the stick of an onrushing defender, who could only
deflect the ball towards goal.  Although Reading forward Alex
Danson did her best to flick the ball on its way, she failed to
connect and it was Cullen’s effort that carried on towards the
goal, trickling over the line off the foot of a defender.
Experienced China forward Baorong Fu halved the
deficit shortly after, remaining cool to finish confidently from
close range after being the recipient of a bobbling ball inside the
Great Britain circle.  The four times World All Star’s shot
left Beth Storry with no chance.
But just as China looked to have found a way back
into contention, a moment of excellence from Chloe Rogers at the
other end set up Ashleigh Ball for Great Britain’s third goal.
 Carrying the ball in along the right baseline, Leicester
midfielder Rogers drew the goalkeeper before confidently flicking
it over her.  As it came down, the audacious chip looked to be
heading over the line until the intervention of Yibo Ma.
 However, Ma’s clearance was momentary as Ball followed up to
strike an upright reverse stick shot home to make it 3-1.
Both sides created further set piece opportunities
from penalty corners but neither could fully capitalise and it
finished 3-1.  With her brace, Crista Cullen remains the
tournament’s top goal scorer with five goals.
Speaking afterwards, Great Britain Head Coach Danny
Kerry said, “It was a very, very tough game.  We covered a lot
of distance out there.  I know we can play better but it’s a
good result against the Olympic silver medallists.
“I think we have been consistent over the first
three matches, especially in hot conditions.  Today was better
and we could attack more.  I’m reasonably happy with the three
matches.
“Today, we should have scored more and equally
China could scored more. It was close. Where we came in the group
was always up to us and not reliant on anyone else.”
Captain Kate Walsh also admitted Great Britain have
more to come, adding, “We know we can play better and hopefully we
can show this as the tournament progresses.”
Having finished second in Pool A, Great Britain
will play against the team finishing third in the other pool, Pool
B.  The quarter finals take place on Thursday.

A penalty corner double from Crista Cullen and a goal
from Slough’s Ashleigh Ball helped Great Britain to a 3-1 victory
over China, the Olympic silver medallists, at the Champions Trophy
in Rosario.

The result, coupled with the Netherlands’ earlier 4-1 defeat of
Japan, leaves Great Britain second in Pool A, behind the Dutch on
goals scored.  Great Britain’s quarter final opponents on
Thursday will be the side finishing third in Pool B, to be
determined on Tuesday evening.

Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry returned to the starting line-up,
as did EuroCanterbury’s Natalie Seymour; Abi Walker and Bowdon
Hightown’s Sally Walton sat the match out.

As early as the fifth minute, Leicester defender Cullen showed
her penalty corner prowess once again as she converted from Great
Britain’s first opportunity, although Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Liu
would have been disappointed to see the ball go through her legs en
route.

Great Britain survived a slight scare in the tenth minute when
the ball ended up in the back of the British goal after Tang
Chunling tried to latch on to a cross into the circle.
 Although no goal was given Tang appealed to the video umpire
claiming she had touched the ball inside the circle on its way
through.  The video umpire however declared that no decision
was possible from the replay and it remained 1-0.

As the half progressed Great Britain won two penalty corners but
Zhang was up to the task and it remained 1-0 at the break.

In the 42nd minute, Cullen netted her second.  This time
striking the ball from a penalty corner, her effort came up off the
stick of an onrushing defender, who could only deflect the ball
towards goal.  Although Reading forward Alex Danson did her
best to flick the ball on its way, she failed to connect and it was
Cullen’s effort that carried on towards the goal, trickling over
the line off the foot of a defender.

Experienced China forward Baorong Fu halved the deficit shortly
after, remaining cool to finish confidently from close range after
being the recipient of a bobbling ball inside the Great Britain
circle.  The four times World All Star’s shot left Beth Storry
with no chance.

But just as China looked to have found a way back into
contention, a moment of excellence from Chloe Rogers at the other
end set up Ashleigh Ball for Great Britain’s third goal.
 Carrying the ball in along the right baseline, Leicester
midfielder Rogers drew the goalkeeper before confidently flicking
it over her.  As it came down, the audacious chip looked to be
heading over the line until the intervention of Yibo Ma.
 However, Ma’s clearance was momentary as Ball followed up to
strike an upright reverse stick shot home to make it 3-1.

Both sides created further set piece opportunities from penalty
corners but neither could fully capitalise and it finished 3-1.
 With her brace, Crista Cullen remains the tournament’s top
goal scorer with five goals.

Speaking afterwards, Great Britain Head Coach Danny Kerry
said,

“It was a very, very tough game.  We covered a lot of
distance out there.  I know we can play better but it’s a good
result against the Olympic silver medallists.

“I think we have been consistent over the first three matches,
especially in hot conditions.  Today was better and we could
attack more.  I’m reasonably happy with the three matches.

“Today, we should have scored more and equally China could
scored more. It was close. Where we came in the group was always up
to us and not reliant on anyone else.”

Captain Kate Walsh also admitted Great Britain have more to
come, adding,

“We know we can play better and hopefully we can show this as
the tournament progresses.”

Having finished second in Pool A, Great Britain will play
against the team finishing third in the other pool, Pool B.
 The quarter finals take place on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top