After two years of global hockey competitions, it all came
down to one hour of thrilling, competitive hockey.While it was Argentina
who dominated and wowed the capacity crowd with their stick skills, New Zealand –
competing in their first major final since 2010 – played their part in this
exciting and highly-skilled match.
The first half was predominantly Argentina ,
with Sally Rutherford in the New
Zealand goal performing heroics to keep a
clean sheet..
Just 15 seconds had gone in the second half before Argentina 's Las
Leonas opened their account.
It was the player voted Young Player of the Argentina Hockey
World League Final, Maria Granatto (16'), who scored after a good run gave her
the space she needed to slip the ball past Rutherford.
The second Argentina
goal came when Noel Barriounuevo's penalty corner shot was saved but Maria
Campoy was on hand to slam the ball home.
Anita Punt pulled one back for New Zealand when she put a penalty
corner drag flick high into the corner of Succi's goal.
The two-goal cushion was restored when Campoy got her second
goal and Argentina 's
third.
Noel Barriounuevo buried the ball deep into the goal from a
penalty corner to take the score to 4-1.
Merino topped a great performance with an outstanding goal
to make it 5-1 with just 10 minutes left on the clock.
Afterwards, a delighted and tearful Carla Rebecchi said:
"I am so proud to have won a final in Rosario in front of such an amazing crowd and
with this team."
Delfina Merino added: "Did we do it for the crowd? In
truth no, first we did it for ourselves. We have had highs and lows this year
so it was good to finish on a high. Then, of course the fans were amazing, but
we are a young team and we have to sort our attitude out. We started badly but
we learnt."
Meanwhile, Coach to New Zealand , Mark Hager, said:
"I am very proud of my team, we didn't play our best today, not in any
area of the game. We let Argentina
run with the ball way too much, but, look, we were in our first final and we
have to learn how to perform in finals."
In the first match of the day, Germany
swept to a 6-2 victory in the third place play-off with China .
Goals from Pia-Sophie Oldhafer, Eileen Hoffmann, Julia
Muller, Janne Muller-Weiland, Lisa Altenburg and Marie Mavers ensured a third
place finish for the ninth-ranked team.
Wang Mengyu of China scored twice in reply to
secure her status as top scorer with five goals in total at the Argentina
Hockey World League Final.
Final standings
Final standings
Winners - Argentina
Runners-up - New
Zealand
3rd place – Germany
4th place – China
Individual Awards
Player of the Argentina HWL Final
Stacey Michelsen (NZL)
Goalkeeper of the Argentina HWL Final
Li Dongxiao (CHN)
Young Player of the Argentina HWL Final
Maria Granatto (ARG)
Top goalscorer at the Argentina HWL Final
Wang Mengyu (CHN)
Just prior to the start of the final, the stadium was
renamed the Luciana Aymar Stadium in honour of local lass Leonas hockey legend
Luciana Aymar. Aymar retired from international hockey after Argentina won
the 2014 Champions Trophy.
FIH Press release
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