Briefings


Feb 01, 2012 17:32 Match Preview 14. Argentina - China (February 2nd, 8:00pm)
Match Preview 14. Argentina - China (February 2nd, 8:00pm)

Head-to-Heads
> Argentina have won their last three CT encounters with China: 2-1 in 2009, 4-3 in 2010 and 4-1 in 2011.
> China’s last Champions Trophy win over Argentina dates back to the 2008 CT (2-1).
> At the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina beat China 2-0, goals scored by Noel Barrionuevo (PC) and Luciana Aymar.
> At last year’s CT in Amstelveen, Argentina won 4-1 goal scored by Noel Barrionuevo (PC), Soledad Garcia, Delfina Merino, Daniela Sruoga and China’s Zhao Yudiao (PC).
 
 
Argentina
> Argentina have beaten Germany 4-2 and have drawn 2-2 with both New Zealand and Germany.
> Argentina have scored 8 goals so far, 3 field goals and 5 penalty corners goals.
> Argentina have scored 5 PC goals from 15 penalty corners awarded in the tournament (33%). Only GB (38%) are on a higher PC success rate after the pool matches.
> Las Leonas have conceded 3 of 13 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> Noel Barrionuevo has scored in each of Argentina’s last 5 matches vs China at world level events ( 4 CT matches and 1 World Cup match).
> Noel Barrionuevo has won the CT top scorer title twice (2007 & 2010), equal most with Franziska Hentschel (1991, 1993), Alyson Annan (1997, 1999) and Maartje Paumen (2009, 2011).
> Noel Barrionuevo (22 goals) is joint 2nd on the all-time top scorer list with Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER). Only with Maartje Paumen (NED) has scored more CT goals (23 coming into the quarterfinal stage).
> Argentina are ranked 2nd on the Worlds ranking. In 2011 Las Leonas lost their status as World Number 1 to the Netherlands after losing the 2011 Champions Trophy final in a penalty shoot-out.
> 7-time FIH World Player of the year, Luciana Aymar (34) is the second oldest player to represent Argentina in the Champions Trophy and the oldest since Maria Magdalena Aicega (34) in 2008.
 
 
China
> China won 1 of their 3 Pool matches beating Japan 2-1. They suffered 3-1 defeats against Netherlands and GB.
> China have scored four goals in the pool phase, only Japan have scored fewer goals (2).
> China’s 4 goals so far have been score by Fu Baorong, Zhao Yudiao, Ma Yibo (PC) and De Jiaojiao (PC)
> Ma Yibo is China’s top goalscorer in CT competition on 19 (PC) goals, equal with Luciana Aymar and Natascha Keller.
> Fu Baorong is on 16 CT career goals (14 FG, 1PC and 1PS)
> China have a penalty corner success rate of 2 for 11 at Rosario 2012 (18%).
> China have conceded 3 PC goals out of 13 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> 2010 Asian Games Champions China are the highest ranked Asian team on the world ranking in fifth place. China dropped from 4th to 5th in 2011. Fifth place is their lowest rank since 2007.
> This is China’s fifth successive CT appearance and their 12th in total.
> China have failed to win a medal in their last 4 CT participations. Their last CT medal dates back to 2006 when they claimed silver losing 3-2 to Germany in the final.
> Since wining silver in 2006, China have dropped a spot every year finishing 4th in 2008, 5th in 2009, 6th in 2010 and 7th in 2011.
> China’s Gao Lihua holds the record for most cards shown in Champions Trophy history: 9 cards (3 yellow and 6 green). Argentina’s Luciana Aymar in on 8 cards (1yellow – 7 green).