The first match of six matches here at the BDO FIH Hockey World Cup in Rosario, Argentina saw China defeat South Africa 1-4 in a game rescheduled from yesterday. GAO Lihua was the hero for her team, scoring three times in the game for her team. The win was a vital one for China, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the Semi Finals.
An entertaining first half saw both sides defy the early start, attacking hard from the very first moments. South Africa took an early lead when Jennifer WILSON deflected a low penalty corner flick from Pietie COETZEE in the third minute, but China grabbed an equaliser thanks to REN Ye’s instinctive reverse stick tip-in from a penalty corner cross shot by GAO Lihua (26mins). Sulette DAMONS almost moved RSA ahead a minute later, but failed to make contact with her attempted close range volley. Despite this missed chance for South Africa, it was China certainly finished the half as the stronger team, creating a number of excellent goal-scoring opportunities thwarted by the RSA defenders.
China continued their domination in the second half, and deservedly took the lead when the ever-reliable FU Baorong found the target from open play in the 43rd minute. South Africa were up against the ropes for much of the period, as the newly confident China team went in search of more goals. Two strikes in just over three minutes from GAO Lihua completed the scoring, the first being a fierce reverse stick shot into the bottom corner before a close-range tap-in sealed the win.
Match 13 – South Africa v China 1-4
> China join South Africa on 3 points in Pool B.
> China equal their record for most goals scored in a World Cup match beating South Africa 4-1.
> At the 2006 World Cup China beat SA 4-0. They also scored four against Ukraine in 2002 (4-1) and India in 1998 (4-2).
> Jennifer Wilson (RSA) has now scored in the last three World Cup tournaments (2002, 2006 and 2010), 4 WC goals in total.
> Ren Ye (CHN) netted her fourth career World Cup goal and her second against South Africa. In 2006 she also netted against SA.
> Ren Ye’s goal is China’s only PC goal in 11 attempts at Rosario 2010.
> All three South Africa games at Rosario 2010 have seen a 1-1 half-time score.
> Fu Baorong netted a field goal against RSA like she did the last times these teams met at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
> Gao Lihua netted her fist two World Cup goals today. She has now scored in all three major tournaments.
Source: www.worldhockey.org
