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The Hockeyroos kicked off their World League Finals campaign with a 1-0 win over China in Rosario, Argentina.
The Hockeyroos edged in front at the 43-minute mark through Georgina Morgan, and could have followed up with another goal moments later when Kathryn Slattery looked to have the Chinese keeper beaten, but the ball hit her foot for a penalty.
China had good defensive pressure for most of the game but continued their recent struggle to score – they have averaged 0.6 goals a game from their past 42 matches, although they have proven to be tough to score against.
In her 150th game for her country, Jodie Kenny helped control things down back, using her height and reach to strip the ball from her Chinese opponents on several occasions. Emerging Hockeyroo Gabrielle Nance looking lively up forward, and the Hockeyroos always looked the more threatening team.
China had the chance to take the lead early in the second half but Peng Yang’s goal was disallowed and then Morgan’s goal put the Hockeyroos in front.
The final quarter saw both teams come out playing physical hockey, with players from both teams being carded during the final 10 minutes of the game. In the last five minutes the Hockeyroos had to play with only nine players, after losing two players to cards. It nearly proved costly as well, with a penalty awarded against them for a dangerous ball, which was referred and upheld. After the penalty corner, Chinese player De Jiaojiao failed to latch onto a blistering pass that screamed past keeper Rachael Lynch and narrowly missed the goal.
The Hockeyroos were able to hold on in the end, recording a 1-0 win to start the World League Finals on the right note.
Captain Madonna Blyth said after the game that the Hockeyroos were happy to come away with the win.
“I think we are happy with patches of our play, we played some really good hockey, we couldn’t quite put the game away as we needed and turns into that in the end and we had a couple of players sitting on the bench, it’s a bit of run and gun hockey but really happy to come away with the win,” Blyth said.
Even with players off the field and a willing opponent who wouldn’t lie down, Blyth said her team continued to play their way.
“It’s something we really try to do when the games getting frantic, try to play the same style of hockey from start to finish and trust that it will work for us and tonight it did.”
The Hockeyroos now turn their attention to host Argentina.
| Australia | China | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goals | 0 |
| 7 | Shots | 2 |
| 12 | Circle entries | 6 |
| 53% | Pos in opp half | 47% |
| 1 of 3 | Penalty corners | 0 of 1 |
| 2 | Cards | 3 |
Send your support for the Hockeyroos through social media #Roovolution #MakeYourMark #HWL2015.
Follow Jason on Twitter @jased1973