WOMEN Pool B England vs USA 1-2 (0-2)

Selenski's (3') goal came after she made a tricky run into the circle, drawing a foul and winning her team a penalty corner. Caroline Nicholls struck the ball, but it was Selenski who slotted home. The second goal was scored in similar circumstances; Michelle Vitesse wove her way through the England defence to win a penalty corner, and Nicholls' shot went to the left of the goal for Kelsey Kolojejchick (15') to tap home.

England won five penalty corners in the first half, but were unable to get past Jackie Kintzer, who had an outstanding game in the USA goal, denying England the chance to get back into the game.

Across the pitch for the majority of the first half and the first 15 minutes of the second half, the USA continued to dominate the ball in midfield, but Maddie Hinch in the England goal was up to anything the USA threw at her. Eventually England found the net, through a Kate Richardson-Walsh penalty corner but that goal, and the subsequent shots from Owsley and Alex Danson, were not enough to stop the USA from getting their campaign off to a winning start.

A delighted Selenski said: "Of course it was a great experience and amazing to go out and get a win. England are a great team but we matched them out there. We had a game plan and we executed it. Our coaching staff have brought a different programme to our squad and we really focus on our strengths. Our team confidence is high right now."


WOMEN Pool B Argentina vs South Africa 4-1 (2-0)

The third women's game of day two saw the much anticipated return to World Cup action of eight times Player of the Year Luciana Aymar and the talented Las Leonas as they took on 12th-ranked South Africa. The game went according to the form books but a spirited South African defence put up a strong resistance in the early stages of the game and also scored a consolation goal against the run of play. 

It took 26 minutes for Argentina to break the deadlock after countless chances against South Africa. Silvina D’Elia’s straight hit off a penalty corner finally got Argentina on the board after three previous corner attempts unconverted by Noel Barrionuevo. D’Elia found her rhythm as two minutes later she found the back of the net on another penalty corner straight strike sending Las Leonas into the break with a 2-0 edge.

In the second frame Barrionuevo lifted Argentina up by three as she had acres of time to deliver on a lay-off corner option in the 40th minute. South Africa kept pace in the midfield but were unable to handle the crafty stick work and speed of the Argentine forwards. Delfina Merino surprised herself with a baseline shot that ricocheted off South African keeper Anelle van Deventer and into the mesh.

South Africa’s Tarryn Bright got her stick on a brilliant mid-air deflection to break Belen Succi’s shutout. Final score finished 4-1 for Las Leonas for the defending champions’ 2014 World Cup campaign.

Up next Argentina will face Pan American rivals USA on June 3rd at 17:30 CET.

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