Las Leonas win third successive Champions Trophy title

Argentina have won the Samsung FIH Champions Trophy, claiming their third successive title courtesy of a 4-2 victory over The Netherlands in Nottingham, England.

Noel BARRIONUEVO scored a hat-trick of penalty corners, with Carla REBECCHI also getting her name on the score-sheet. The Netherlands scored field goals from Kelly JONKER and Maartje GODERIE, but it was not enough to deny Argentina the win. It was a fantastic afternoon for Las Leonas who will be hoping to take their sensational form into the World Cup, which begins next month in the Argentinean city of Rosario.

Earlier in the day, England claimed the Bronze Medal with a 2-1 win over Germany, while New Zealand defeated China 4-3 to finish in fifth place.

Following their triumph, Argentina were presented with the Champions Trophy by Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, in the company Leandro Negre, President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

After the presentation, Argentina coach Carlos RETEGUI spoke of his delight regarding his team's successive third Champions Trophy title, saying: ÔÇ£I am obviously pleased to have won. I would like to thank the girls for playing so well ... they played six fantastic games of hockey. I think the people who came to watch here in Nottingham have seen an excellent display of hockey.'

Argentina's captain Luciana AYMAR was named Player of the Tournament, with team-mate Noel BARRIONUEVO collecting the prize for Top Goal Scorer thanks to her impressive tally of eight. The Goalkeeper of the Tournament award was given to England's Beth STORRY, who was in superb form for her country throughout the event.

The tournament will be remembered for a number of landmark moments, including a record 75 goals scored, including the 1000th in women's Champions Trophy history which was netted by Kim LAMMERS of The Netherlands.

Standings
1: ARGENTINA
2: The Netherlands
3: England
4: Germany
5: New Zealand
6: China

Individual Awards
Player of the Tournament: Luciana AYMAR (ARG)
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Beth STORRY (ENG)
Top Goalscorer: Noel BARRIONUEVO (ARG) - 8 Goals.

Match review: Final 1-2 Netherlands - Argentina 2-4 (Sunday 18 July)
- The six goals scored in the final brought this year's total on 75, a record high in Samsung FIH Champions Trophy history.
- Argentina won their third consecutive Samsung FIH Champions Trophy and their fourth in total after previously having won in 2001, 2008 and 2009.
- They are the second nation to win at least three Champions Trophies in a row. Australia won five in a row from 1991 until 1999.
- They became the first team to win the CT despite not winning their first two matches of the edition.
- Argentina are now 3-2 against Holland in finals of major tournaments. They have won the 2001 and 2010 CT and the 2002 World Cup, whilst Netherlands have won the 1974 World Cup and the 2007 CT.
- Luciana Aymar, Claudia Ines Burkart and Marine Russo won their fourth Gold medal.
- Minke Smeets-Smabers (NED) and Argentina's Luciana Aymar equalled Minke Booij's (NED) record of playing in six CT finals.
- Holland played in their ninth CT final, one short of Australia's record of ten.
- After having won the last three CT finals they played in, the Dutch have lost a final for the first time since 2001.
- Netherlands equalled Australia with most CT matches played, 99.
> Holland have now scored 200 goals in CT history.
- Smeets-Smabers won her 11th CT medal. She is all-time record holder with most medals: three Gold, three Silver and five Bronze.
- Noel Barrionuevo scored a hat-trick and became top scorer of this year's CT with a record equalling eight goals. Lim Kye-Sook (KOR) also scored eight goals in 1987.
- The last player to score a hat-trick was her compatriot Alejandra Gulla in the 2008 final against Germany.
- She scored in six consecutive CT matches, equalling the record set by Jackie Pereira in 1987-1989.
- Barrionuevo has scored a record 19 PC goals in total.
- She equalled Alejandra Gulla as Argentina's CT top scorer with 19 goals.
- Only two players have scored more CT goals, Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER, 22) and Jackie Pereira (AUS, 21)
- Carla Rebecchi scored her seventh CT goal and her third against Holland. Argentina have won all seven matches in which she scored.

England claim third with triumph over Germany
Host nation England have achieved their best ever finish at a Champions Trophy event by claiming third place courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Germany. Defender Crista CULLEN scored what proved to be the winning goal in the second half, delighting the home supporters in Nottingham.

Germany took the lead in the ninth minute when Maike STOECKEL volleyed home from close range, although England were denied an equaliser by the frame of the goal mid-way through the period. England pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half, and it eventually arrived from Susie GILBERT who was on hand to score following a penalty corner flick from Crista CULLEN. The winning goal arrived in the 51st minute when an England penalty corner was clinically flicked into the net by CULLEN, much to the delight of the home crowd. Germany searched desperately for an equaliser, but England held on for their second tournament victory over to seal third place.

Match review: Final 3-4 England - Germany 2-1 (Sunday 18 July)
- England win their first ever medal at the Samsung FIH Champions Trophy by beating Germany 2-1 in the final for third and fourth place.
- England's previous best finish was fifth in 2003, whilst Great Britain finished fourth in 1989.
- This was England's second consecutive win against Germany.
- Germany are the only opponent England have beaten twice in CT history.
- England have now five CT matches, equal to Great Britain's total of five wins.
- England came into this year's CT with only one win in history. They won four matches in Nottingham.
- Germany finished fourth, just like in 1995 and in 2009.
- England scored two more PC goals today, bringing their total to seven in this year's edition. They have scored ten goals in total.

New Zealand defeat China to claim 5th
New Zealand's Black Sticks saved their best performance of the tournament for last, inflicting a 4-3 defeat on China to claim fifth place here at the Samsung FIH Champions Trophy in Nottingham. The result was New Zealand's first Champions Trophy victory since beating England in 2002, being enough to claim fifth place in the tournament. New Zealand fell behind on three occasions but fought back each time to level the scores before Gemma FLYNN netted what proved to be the winning goal in the 62nd minute.

The game's opening goal was scored by MA Yibo with a well placed penalty corner flick in the 9th minute, but New Zealand equalised three minutes later when Charlotte HARRISON forced home from close range following a surging run into the circle from the left. China moved ahead for a second time when ZHAO Yudiao slammed in a brilliant reverse stick shot from the left (FG 22m) before Katie GLYNN crashed home a penalty corner strike (PC 39) early in the second half. MA moved China ahead once again with another impressive penalty corner (PC 44m) before field goals in the 58th and 62nd minutes from Piki HAMAHONA and FLYNN secured a 4-3 triumph for New Zealand.

Match review: Final 5-6 China - New Zealand 3-4 (Sunday 18 Jul 2010)
- New Zealand won the final for 5th/6th place 3-4 after falling behind three times.
- By finishing fifth they equalled their best result in the Samsung FIH Champions Trophy. They also finished fifth in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
- China recorded their worst finish ever. They are now the first team in CT history to have finished in all six positions.
- New Zealand ended a 17-CT match winless streak today. They had not won a game since beating England 2-0 in 2002.
- This is the second time in CT history a team gave away a lead three times in a match and again China were involved. They drew 3-3 against Argentina in 2003 after taking the lead three times.
- This was New Zealand's first CT win against China in their seventh encounter.
- Ma Yibo has now scored 18 CT goals. Only three players have scored more CT goals, Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (GER, 22), Jackie Pereira (AUS, 21) and Alejandra Gulla (ARG, 19).
- All of her 18 goals were PC goals, a record for the tournament.
- Charlotte Harrison scored her second goal of the tournament, one more than her sister Samantha.
- Piki Hamahona scored her third CT goal. She was the only player in the current squad who also played in New Zealand's previous win in 2002.