ALEJANDRA Gulla scored three goals for Argentina to beat Germany 6-2 and capture the Champions Trophy women`s field hockey tournament.Argentina won the event, which brings together the world`s top six teams, for the second time after 2001, while Olympic champions Germany lost for the fifth time in six Champions Trophy finals.
World champion Netherlands took third place with a 3-0 win against China, while Australia finished fifth after beating Japan 3-0.
"That was an important step toward Beijing," Argentina coach Gabriel Monadeo said.
Argentina put pressure on Germany, playing in front of 5,500 fans, from the opening minutes after the two countries played a 0-0 draw on Saturday that sent both through to the final.
Augustina Garcia scored in the fifth minute, Gulla four minutes later and Carla Rebecchi in the 23rd in the first half for Argentina.
Gulla then added goals in the 37th and 69th minutes and Claudia Burkart the final score in the 52nd for Argentina.
Germany`s goals came from Janine Beermann in the sixth and Kerstin Hoyer in the 49th.
The game was the highest scoring of the tournament.
"We can be proud that we even reached the final with this field," Germany coach Michael Behrmann said.
"You can expect us to do well again at the Olympic Games."
AAP
