| Briefings |
| Feb 04, 2012 18:23 | Match Preview 22. Final 5-6 New Zealand- Japan (February 5th, 3:00pm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Match Preview 22. Final 5-6 New Zealand- Japan (February 5th, 3:00pm) |
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Head-to-Heads > This is the first ever Champions Trophy match featuring New Zealand and Japan. > Their last encounter at a world level event came at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario and saw New Zealand come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Japan, goals scored by Kaori Fujio, Mie Nakashima, Krystal Forgesson and Kayla Sharland. > In March 2011, New Zealand and Japan played each other in a 5-match test series in New Zealand. The Black Sticks won 3 of these 5 matches, drawing 1 and losing 1. Katie Glynn scored 5 of New Zealand’s 10 goals in the series. New Zealand > 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. > New Zealand won its first medal at the Champions Trophy in 2011, finishing with the bronze medal after beating Korea 3-2 in the third-place playoff. > The Black Sticks claimed a third consecutive Oceania Cup title in 2011, securing a berth for the Olympic Games in London later this year. > The Black Sticks finished sixth the last time they competed in the Champions Trophy in Argentina, in Rosario in 2004. > New Zealand are on 1 for 18 penalty corners awarded in the tournament. At the 2006 Champions Trophy New Zealand did not convert a single penalty corner. > Cathryn Finlayson is on 3 goals for the tournament, equalling the NZL player record for most goals scored in a CT edition, jointly held by Moira Senior (3 goals in 1999), Charlotte Harrison (2011) and Katie Glynn (2011). > Anita Punt and Gemma Flynn were named in the FIH All Star team in 2011. Japan > Japan are ranked 9th on the FIH World Ranking. > Japan qualified for the 2012 Champions Trophy after winning the Champions Challenge in Dublin in 2011. Three of the previous 5 Champions Challenge winner have finished 5th of 6th in the Champions Trophy. > Japan has competed at two previous editions of the Champions Trophy, with its best result a fifth-place finish in Quilmes in 2007, the last time the tournament was held in Argentina. In 2008 they finished 6th (of 6). > Japan is the only team competing in Rosario that has not already qualified for the Olympic Games in London later this year. > Japan’s 8 goals have been scored by only 4 players: Rika Komazawa (3), Akane Shibata (2), Ai Murakami and Kaori Fujio. All other teams have at least 5 goalscorers at Rosario 2012. > Rika Komazawa is on 4 goals at Rosario 2012, equalling Kaori Chiba’s record for most goals scored by a Japanese player in a single CT tournament first set in 2008. > Japan are on 4 for 15 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (27%). > Japan conceded 6 PC goals from 16 penalty corners awarded against them (38%).
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