Briefings Feb 03, 2012 03:11 Match Preview 17. New Zealand – China (February 3rd, 8:00pm) Match Preview 17. New Zealand – China (February 3rd, 8:00pm) Head-to-Heads > New Zealand and China have met 7 times in CT competition with New Zealand only winning their last CT encounter; 4-3 in the 2010 Final 5-6. > China’s last CT win over New Zealand came also in 2010 in the 1st round (3-1). > Their last competitive meeting came at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario and saw New Zealand beating China 3-0 in the Final 7-8.     New Zealand > New Zealand remain winless after 4 matches played at Rosario 2012 on 2 draws and 2 defeats. > New Zealand and Japan are the only teams that have failed to score in a CT match at Rosario 2012. NZL lost 3-0 to the Netherlands and Japan lost 3-0 to GB. > New Zealand are on 0 for 9 penalty corners in the tournament. They are the only team that is yet to score from penalty corners. > New Zealand have conceded 4 of 22 penalty corners awarded to their opponents. No team has seen more penalty corners been awarded against them. > New Zealand have finished 5th or 6th in 8 of their previous 9 CT tournaments. At the 2011 CT they claimed bronze. > NZL’s 5 goals so far have been scored by 5 different players: Cathryn Finlayson, Katie Glynn, Samantha Harrison, Anita Punt, Stacey Michelsen. > Stacey Michelsen (NZL) was named 2011 FIH Young Player of the Year on Thursday. > Katie Glynn is New Zealand’s all-time top scorer in CT competition on 6 goals. Charlotte Harrison is on 5. > New Zealand are ranked 6th on the FIH world ranking. > Since 2008 (11th), the Black Sticks have improved their world ranking every year moving up to 9th in 2009, 7th in 2010 and 6th in 2011. > Coach Mark Hager has taken the team from 12th to sixth ranked team in the world.     China > China and New Zealand have conceded 10 goals so far this tournament. Only Korea and Japan (12 each) have conceded more. > China have scored 6 goals so far – 3 FG and 3 PC. > China have been awarded 13 penalty corners so far. Only New Zealand have been awarded less PC at Rosario (9). Japan are also on 13. > Ma Yibo is China’s top goalscorer so far at Rosario 2012 on 2 (PC) goals. Her CT career total is 20. > China are the highest ranked Asian team on the world ranking in fifth place. China dropped from 4th to 5th in 2011. > China have now failed to win a medal in 5 successive 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 are the 2010 Asian Games Champions. > China’s Gao Lihua and Argentina’s Luciana Aymar share the record for most cards in Champions Trophy history. Gao received a total of 9 cards (3 yellow and 6 green). Argentina’s Luciana Aymar in also on 8 cards (1yellow – 8 green).