US deny India full points
with late goal

A late goal by Jill Reeve denied India full points against the United States in the first women's Champions Challenge hockey tournament in Randburg, South Africa.

The Indians were leading by an early goal till the 65th minute of the match but Reeve deflected home a pass from a penalty-corner to enable the United States take a point from a 1-1 draw.

In what was a preview of April's World Cup qualifying three-match series between the two countries in Brussles, India got off to a rousing start with Sanggai Maimom Chanu sounding the boards from regular play in the fifth minute. They had chances to increase the lead but Peggy Storrar in the US goal was hard to beat.

The draw left both teams with five points, each having a win and two draws.

India had drawn 3-3 with England in their opening match and beat South Africa 1-0 in their second outing.

England move to the top

In the other matches of the day, England beat Russia 2-1 to move to the top of the league table with seven points from three matches, while Korea got the better of South Africa 3-2.

England held sway right through the match but met with stubborn resistance from Russian goalkeeper Qxana Boiko. They forged ahead in the 28th minute when skipper Melanie Clewlow hit a crisp shot from a penalty-corner.

The Russians fought back and drew level through Galina Bassaitchuk. But with just two minutes remaining, England sealed victory with a great field goal by Imogen Robertson.

The South Africa-Korea encounter provided a near capacity crowd with one of the best matches of the tournament as South Africa started in great style to lead the pacy Koreans 2-1 at the interval.

The home team's goals came from superbly taken penalty-corners by Susan Wessels in the 10th and 29th minutes while the Korean riposte was swift as Kim Yun also scored from a penalty-corner in the 11th minute.

In the end, the Koreans' superior fitness became a telling factor as they equalized from a penalty-corner just one minute into the second half. Following a double dummy Lee Soen Ok drag flicked the ball high into the net with South African goalkeeper InkeVan Wyk completely beaten.

From then on it was Korea in command, with Lee repeating her penalty-corner success in the 63rd minute to give Korea the winner.

Earlier reports

Indian eves scrape past South Africa
India rally to hold England