Argentina win Women's World Cup

Carla Rebecchi scored two goals and and Noel Barrionuevo one as hosts Argentina upset Olympic champions The Netherlands 3-1 to win the BDO FIH World Cup in Rosario, Argentina on Saturday.

At the 2010 Champions Trophy Argentina beat Netherlands twice; 4-2 in the pool match and 4-2 in the final. The last time the Netherlands beat Argentina was in the semi-finals of the 2008 Olympics.

 It was a stunning match between the two top ranked teams and Argentina captain Luciana Aymar was named as player of the tournament.Aymar was also playing her 300th international match for Argentina, with winning the World Cup being the perfect way to crown the occasion.

 The best goalkeeper award went to England's Beth Storry, who helped her side to a Bronze medal earlier in the day thanks to victory over Germany. The best young player award went to India's Rani Rampal, while Maartje Paumen was the top goal scorer. Australia were the recepients of the fair play prize. 

The match itself was a brilliant encounter between the two best teams in the world. Argentina were clearly inspired by their cheering crowd, going on the offensive from the first moment, and struck the opening goal when Rebecchi fired into the net in only the third minute. Barrionuevo netted a second just four minutes later.

Paumen pulled a goal back ten minutes after half time with a ferocious penalty corner flick that gave Belen Succi no chance of saving, hitting the roof of the net at breakneck speed. Argentina won a penalty corner of their own minutes later, but failed to take advantage.  However, Argentina were not to be denied a third goal when Rebecci scored her second of the game, slamming home a volley from a tight angle after Alejandra Gulla hit the post with a diving shot.

The goal was greeted with wild cheers and singing from the huge Argentinean following in the stadium, who were really beginning to raise the decibels to unforeseen levels at this event. Arguably the biggest roar of the night came when Succi pulled off a stunning penalty corner save to vitually seal victory for Las Leonas.

In the third place playoff,Alex Danson scored one goal and made another as England achieved their first ever medal at a World Cup by defeating Germany 2-0. The result was a fantastic achievement for England, a squad which contains a large number of players who will hope to play at the London 2012 Olympics.

FIH