PERTH Nov 30: Argentina remained atop Pool A with its fourth-straight win, beating China 2-0 Saturday in women’s World Cup field hockey.

Agustina Garcia set up Argentina’s victory with goals in the fifth and tenth minutes, sparking the South Americans attack. Luciana Aymar carved through China’s defence to lay the foundation for Garcia’s shots on goal.

Argentina slackened off for the remainder of the match, doing as much as they needed to keep possession and keep China out of the game but without urgency to score.

China failed to tap into the strength that propelled it over Argentina in August to win the Champions Trophy in Macau, botching a scoring chance when Chen Xaiaoling and Tang Chunling went one-on-one with Argentina’s goalkeeper, Mariela Antoniska, and failing to convert four penalty corners.

Luciana Aymar and Karina Masotta, playing her 200th game, were also off target with shots on goal for Argentina in the second half.

But Argentina did take some hits on the field, with Mercedes Margolot taking one in the nose and scorer Garcia suffering an injury to the left ankle. Both players sat out most of the second half, contributing to Argentina slower play in efforts to conserve players’ energy.

Despite the injuries, Argentine coach Sergio Virgil said: “The players will be fit to play for the rest of the tournament.”

Vanina Oneto, however, is unlikely to pick up her stick for the rest of the tournament after she broke her left hand on the first day of play.

Virgil praised Argentine captain Karina Masotta’s 200th game for the team, saying “apart from the technical and physical conditions of the athlete, they have to have a big mental condition and a great love of Argentina’s jersey.”

“The player has to continue to grow as a player and that is why Karina Masotta has achieved this milestone.”

Results:

Ukraine 3 Russia 3

China 0 Argentina 2

USA 3 South Africa 0

Ireland 1 Spain 2

—AFP