England defeat defending champions on champions trophy opening day
England Results Service, Samsung FIH Champions Trophy 2010 Nottingham, England
Argentina 1 (0) Noel Barrioneuvo 55 (PC)
England 2 (1) Hannah Macleod 12 (F) Alex Danson 53 (PC)
In an exciting and at times nail biting match, England opened their Samsung FIH Champions Trophy campaign with a memorable win over the current holders and world number two Argentina in front of a vocal Nottingham crowd.
Leicester's Hannah Macleod gave England the best possible start just over ten minutes in as she threw herself bravely to put England one up. Midway through the second half Reading's Alex Danson deflected home Crista Cullen's penalty corner and England looked in great shape to take only their second ever Champions Trophy win. Things got nervy two minutes later though when Noel Barrioneuvo pulled one back for Las Leonas from a penalty corner and the South Americans put England under a period of immense pressure.
England stood firm and cheered on by an excitable crowd they held out, in part thanks to the goalkeeping of Beth Storry, for an important opening day win.
Following on from China and Germany's tournament curtain raiser, this was a match of contrasting styles; England, the more organised with set pieces and the Argentinians playing with flashes of individual flair.
The first half saw the Trophy holders create more opportunities and more shots on goal than England, despite the home side enjoying the larger share of the possession. England went ahead after 12 minutes when Hannah Macleod finished a well worked passage of play that began by exchanging passes with Christa Cullen in her own half. Reaching the Argentina circle, diving, she connected well with the ball into the circle to knock it home beyond Belen Succi for 1-0.
The game was a physical encounter, with several players picking up knocks. Alex Danson, England's best player, received a warning for a heavy challenge and Ana Macaren Rodriguez Perez left the field shortly afterwards after being struck by a ball below the left shoulder. Early in the second half, the crowd and the tournament saw their first Team Referral as Argentina appealed for a penalty corner. The umpires referred the decision to the video umpire but the result was only a free hit.
Ten minutes later, England defender Sally Walton was issued a yellow card and a five minute suspension followed. The setback failed to impede the home side who scored minutes later from a penalty corner when Danson got the reward for her endeavours, deflecting Leicester defender Cullen's drag flick into the net. The celebrations were short lived, however, after Argentina's Noel Barrionuevo managed to pull one back, with a low drag flick past Storry.
England were kept on their toes by six times World Player of the Year and Argentina captain Luciana Aymar who showed what a world class player she is weaving her way through tackles on several occasions.
With the clock ticking down Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry was called upon to make a good save with her glove from a penalty corner and as the England fans counted down the clock, the team held its nerve to record a first win over Argentina in 20 years.
England's victorious captain Kate Walsh said: "It was obviously going to be a tight game when you play the world's number two team. They have some great players."
Explaining what was behind her side's victory, Walsh said: "We had a few chances today and we took them. We're aiming for the trophy but we're coming into this tournament ranked fifth and so we're just taking one game at a time."
Argentina coach Carlos Retegui said: "It was a very difficult game. We know that England is a team that play very well and their lines are very strong. They defend very well, they play very well on the counter-attack and they took all their chances."
It does not get any easier for England tomorrow as they get set to take on the reigning Olympic, World and European Champions the Netherlands at 16:00 on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Germany beat China 2-1 despite going behind on nine minutes.
England Squad v Argentina Started Beth Storry (Reading) Crista Cullen (Leicester) Natalie Seymour (Canterbury) Kate Walsh (c) (Reading) Sally Walton (Bowdon Hightown) Susie Gilbert (University of Birmingham) Hannah Macleod (Leicester) Helen Richardson (Leicester) Chloe Rogers (Leicester) Alex Danson (Reading) Nicola White (Slough)
Substitutes Used Ashleigh Ball (Slough) Laura Unsworth (Leicester) Georgie Twigg (Clifton) Charlotte Craddock (Clifton) Kerry Williams (Leicester)
Did Not Play Katie Long (Leicester) Gemma Ible (Clifton)
