LAS LEONAS ROSARIO FOUR NATIONS CHAMPIONS

Current world champions, Argentina's Las Leonas, defeated the United States 3-2 in the Four Nations Tournament final , in Rosario with captain Noel Barrionuevo scoring twice, and Carla Rebecchi making it three for Carlos Retegui's squad .

But the party in the World Cup Stadium didn't go quite to script with the USA applying the pressure from the outset and surprsing the world champions with a clear chance on goal in the first minute . Then, on seven minutes it was the USA that took the lead after their first short corner of the night, injected by Caroline Nichols was convered by Claire Laubach to make it 1-0 with a shot hit low left past Aladro.

But the American joy was short lived when after further competitive tussles, Las Leonas found the net on sixteen minutes to level with Silvina D'Elia feeding the ball to Noel Barrionuevo to score. Barrionuevo scored again from another short on 30 minutes. ( She was top scorer of the tournament) to make it 2-1 .

 Noel tried to increase the gap with another short, but was denied and both teams in a combative second half were warned with cards for rough play .Peace came after 28 minutes into the second half when Rebecchi entered the semi-circle on the left and, after a shot from low down , sending the ball into the middle of the goal for a 3-1 lead. , Paige Selenski pulled one back three minutes from time making it a nervous ending to the final.

Las Leonas were able to get a finals win in their first major event of the year following their world Cup victory last year and making up for the disappointment of losing the previous four nations final to an ever improving rebuilt Australian squad under the direction of their new coach Adam Commens.

Earlier Australia's "hockeyroos" beat Germany 2-1 to take third place. Germany's Christian Schutze (pictured ) was named as player of the tournament with Noel Barrionuevo top scorer.

FIH World rankings were last updated following the World Cup last September and proved an unreliable predictor of current form and with the Mendoza and Rosario tournaments throwing up a few surprises. Ever reliable Germany were ranked 3rd and matched the rebuilding world champions in Mendoza , and it was Australia currently ranked sixth ( behind England) and introducing seven novice internationals, who spoiled the local party in Mendoza winning that final . With the USA way down in thirteenth place bellow South Africa they had a great series and made a great account of themselves in the Rosario finals

Amongst fans of the world champions, unable to be in Rosario to watch the games, there was widespread disappointment at the relative paucity of media attention to their idols. Although the local public TV Chanel 7 broadcast and streamed live the Mendoza final, no such arrangements were in place to televise the final games in Rosario. So, it was down to the last minute enterprise of fans without broadcast quality equipment, filming and streaming sections of the game direct via Ustream from the stadium or Tweeting and Facebooking brief key comments throughout the final.

In further preparations for the defence of their Champions Trophy in Amsterdam June 25 to July 3rd, between March 23 and April 9, Argentina will tour  Oceania repeating their 2010 round of overseas friendlies against New Zealand and Australia. Last year they played 7 games, recording 4 wins, 2 losses and one draw.The national delegation will depart for New Zealand on Wednesday 23 March to New Zealand, where they will play three games. Subsequently, 30th March they move to Australia to play four games: two in the city of Canberra and two in Sydney. On retrun to Argentina, it is expected that the world's best player, Luciana Aymar and Soledad Garcia with rejoin and strengthen the squad in intense training sessions at CENARD, buenos Airies.

ROSARIO Four Nations squad players:-
Argentina: Maria Laura Aladro, Giselle Kanevsky, María Silvina D'Elia and Noel Barrionuevo, Daniela Sruoga, Macarena Rodríguez, Mariela Josefina Scarone and Sruoga, Rosario Luchetti, Carla Rebecchi Merino and Delfina. Head Coach: Carlos Retegui.

United States: Jaclyn Kintz, Lauren Crandall, Rachel Dawson and Claire Laubach, Caroline Nichols, Kayla Bashore, Melissa Gonzalez and Paige Selenski, Keli Smith, Michelle Kasold and Kathleen O'Donnell. Head Coach: Lee Bodimeade.

Booked: ARG :Rosario Luchetti (green), Carla Rebecchi (green) and Silvina D'Elia (yellow)

USA: Michelle Vittese (green), Paige Selenski (green) and Michelle Kasold (yellow).

Goals: On 7 minutes, Michelle Kasold (USA), 16 and 30 minutes Barrinuevo Noel (Arg). In the second half, after 28 minutes Carla Rebecchi (Arg) and 32 Paige Selenski (USA.)