Las Leonas inflict cruelest of defeats on England

ENGLAND 1 (1)
Alex Danson 7 (PC)

ARGENTINA 2 (1)
Delfina Merino 27 (FG)
Carla Rebecchi 70+ (PC)

Rabobank Hockey World Cup Pool standings

Pool A

Country	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Difference	Points
Netherlands	4	4	0	0	13	12
Australia	4	3	0	1	1	9
Korea	4	2	1	1	2	7
New Zealand	4	2	0	2	1	6
Japan	4	0	1	3	-9	1
Belgium	4	0	0	4	-8	0

Pool B

Country	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Difference	Points
United States	4	3	1	0	9	10
Argentina	4	3	1	0	7	10
China	4	2	1	1	-1	7
Germany	4	1	1	2	-4	4
South Africa	4	1	0	3	-3	3
England	4	0	0	4	-8	0

England Head Coach Jason Lee said he was “very proud” of his team after he’d watched a much improved performance end in yet more disappointment and another defeat. England pushed world number two side Argentina all the way to the wire, but agonisingly conceded a goal from a penalty corner after the full-time hooter had sounded. Still without a point at the Rabobank World Cup England sit rooted to the bottom of Pool B.

CORRECTION TO THIS TEXT ABOVE: The result means that Argentina have booked their place in the World Cup Semi-Finals alongside Pool B opponents the USA who had beaten Germany 4-1 earlier in the day. With hosts the Netherlands securing their place in the final four after a 2-0 victory over Australia last night there is only one more spot up for grabs [in Pool A] as the teams head into their final group matches tomorrow and Tuesday.

The first half saw England and Argentina share the spoils with a goal apiece. England’s Alex Danson scored her first goal of the tournament in the seventh minute as she reacted first to a loose ball from a penalty corner, sweeping it into an empty goal. The lead lasted until the 27th minute when good pressure from Argentina resulted in Delfina Merino getting the equaliser to take the sides into the break at 1-1.

England showed far more of what they are about in this match and had several chances in the second half to go ahead; Danson came close to getting a second and Lily Owsley and Susie Gilbert both caused problems for the Argentinean defence. The sides remained locked at 1-1 across the final half of play until the final minute when England conceded a penalty corner.

After a desperately disappointing week for the team it felt like there might be a cruel twist to the end of the game and sure enough there was. Noel Barrionuevo dragged the ball into the circle, which Kate Richardson-Walsh initially stopped - injuring her hand in the process - and as the rebound was fired back in there was nothing Maddie Hinch in England’s goal could do as Carla Rebecchi, waiting at the far post, pushed the ball home to give her side the victory.