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Charlotte Harrison spared Black Sticks’ blushes with a last minute goal as the home side rallied splendidly to hold world champions Argentina to a 2-2 draw in their opening match of the second-leg Four Nations women’s hockey tournament, which got underway at the Gallagher Hockey Centre in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Harrison’s final minute strike nullified the South Americans’ plans to exact sweet revenge for their 1-2 defeat in the league phase of the first-leg in Whangarei last week.
The hosts showed resilience in the second half after trailing 0-2 at one stage. Experienced Stacey Michelsen earlier brought her side back in the contest, pulling off the much-needed margin reducer.
Second-ranked Argentina dished out a much improved performance, creating more chances upfront.
Martina Cavallero sounded the board for the blue and white brigade in the first half as the Olympic silver medallists went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Carla Rebecchi doubled the lead in the second half before the Black Sticks mounted a tremendous fightback in the latter stages of play.
Earlier, South Korea rode on a brace by Mi Hyun Park to lap up a cozy 4-1 win over the United States.
Park – the most capped South Korean player – rattled the United States’ cage to make it 2-0 after her team-mate Hyo Ju An gave them the lead in the 17th minute.
Park added another in the second half before USA captain Lauren Crandall, playing in her 200 international, pulled one back.
Young Sil Lee put the issue beyond the Americans with the fourth goal seven minutes later.
Earlier, New Zealand eves had won the first leg of the Four Nations hockey tournament, which concluded at the ITM Hockey Centre in Whangarei last week.
The Black Sticks women humbled South Korea 3-0 in the final showdown.
The win was a sweet revenge for the home side, who were consigned to a narrow 3-4 defeat by the Asian giants in the league phase in the tournament opener.
World champions and Olympic silver medallists Argentina put up a disappointing showing in the first leg, failing to reach the final, having to settle for the third spot after vanquishing the United States.
Argentina, who played the first leg without world’s seven-time player of the year, Luciana Aymar, looked a disjointed outfit struggling to live up to their world number two ranking.
The second leg of the Four Nations hockey tournament runs till April 21.
It may be worth recalling that the Black Sticks had played a five Test series in Argentina last March, which they lost 1-2, winning one game, losing two matches and drawing two games.
