IN a bittersweet finish to the Champions Trophy Orange’s Edwina Bone and her Hockeyroos secured their first Champions Trophy medal since 2009 yesterday, but had to settle for silver after losing out to hosts Argentina.
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In a thrilling final in Mendoza, which Australia controlled for the most part, a shootout was needed to separate the two sides after the game was locked at 1-all after regular time.
Argentina went on to secure a dramatic, and somewhat controversial, 3-1 shootout victory on the back of Luciana Aymar, Carla Rebecchi and Silvina D’Elia’s successful one-on-ones.
The Hockeyroos protested Luciana’s opening goal, claiming the ball had not crossed the line after rebounding off both posts and out of the goal.
Replays showed the Australian players had just cause for the protest, however the goal stood.
Skipper Casey Eastham was the only Hockeyroo able to find the net in the shootout.
Australia dominated the majority of the match, opening the scoring early in the second half through Kathryn Slattery. However the hosts equalised just four minutes later after a Florencia Habif deflection found the back of the net.
“It’s disappointing to lose in the shootout and I thought we were unlucky there, too,” Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens said, speaking directly after the loss.
“I thought we played very well. We created enough opportunities during the game to finish it off but their goalkeeper, Belen Succi, played a great match. We were not as clinical as we could have been though.
“It’s fantastic to reach the final with such a young group and I’ve been proud of their conduct on and off the pitch throughout the tournament. The future looks good for the Hockeyroos.”
