Australia lift title

Australian players hold aloft the trophy after defeating China in the Women's Champions Trophy hockey final in Sydney yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Three goals in the first 16 minutes proved enough for Australia to secure the women's Champions Trophy field hockey tournament 3-2 Sunday but they still had to see off a late charge by China.

A goal in the first minute set the tone for a rampant Australia to establish an apparently unassailable lead but a second-half rally by the Chinese after a dreadful opening period set up an exciting finish.

The victory was revenge for the Australians who last Tuesday were beaten by China during the round robin stage.

The 6,000-strong partisan Australian crowd were cheering within seconds of the push-back. Peta Gallagher robbed Chinas midfield at the half way line before firing a pass to Katrina Powell at the top of the circle.

Powell, who finished tournament top scorer with four goals, deflected the ball to the right post which China's goalkeeper Nie Yali failed to clear and Julie Towers scored.

Australia kept the pressure on Chinas defence, earning three penalty corners in six minutes and converting the third with a deflection by Suzie Faulkner from Karen Smiths drive from wide on the right of the circle.

Australia took a commanding 3-0 lead a minute later with Peta Gallaghers goal from an acute angle on the right, driven over Nie Yali as she came out to try to shut her down.

The closest China came to scoring in the first half was on the second of two two penalty corners but Ma Yibo's shot hit the left post after beating the keeper.

China came back with speed and confidence after the break, pressuring Australias defence and scoring twice in the second half.

Zhou Wanfeng took a free hit eight metres outside the top of Australias circle and Fu Baorong deflected inside the left post to wrong-foot Rachel Imison in goal.

China set up a frantic finish by striking again with five minutes left on the clock with a goal by Li Shuang but Australia defended strongly to keep China from equalising.

The win moves Australia to second in world rankings behind Argentina and ahead of The Netherlands who move down to third. China remains at fourth.

"This is the best performance for Australia in a tournament since 2000, said Australia's coach David Bell. "We have improved in each tournament but feel we have not got the result our improvement deserved.

"You have to give credit to China because you dont play in a Champions Trophy final unless you play well and they have played well all week."

He said the victory was one of the two goals he set this year. The other was achieved earlier in the year by winning the Oceania Cup against New Zealand to qualify for the Athens Olympics.

Australias Bianca Netzler was thrilled with the win. "We started in 2001 with a clean slate and a new team and have been chipping away for three years to get where we are now," she said.

Despite the defeat, China's coach Kim Changback said she was happy with the way her team had competed throughout the tournament. "The second half was a better performance for China but Australia is a very good team with very strong forwards so we had problems in our defence today," Kim said.

"My target for this tournament was fourth place so I am happy with second place."