Argentina, China in women's
Champions Trophy final

Defending champions Argentina and giant-killers China will clash in the final of the six-nation women's Champions Trophy hockey tournament.

In the concluding league matches on Friday, in Macau, Argentina dashed Australia's dreams of a record sixth Champions title, holding them 2-2, while China, helped by a superb goal from Tang Chun Ling beat New Zealand 1-0 to make the final of the tournament for the first time.

In a game of missed opportunities, Argentina opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a magnificent solo effort by Agustina Garcia.

Australia, needing a victory to overhaul China's points tally, tried hard and were rewarded 10 minutes from the breather when Julie Towers scored.

Argentina regained the lead immediately on resumption in the second half when Vanina Oneto deflected home an angled cross.

The Aussies launched an all-out attack for goal and restored parity 10 minutes from the end, when Angie Skirving flicked home a penalty-corner rebound. But that was not enough to give them a place in the final. The South Americans, who needed just a draw to go through, held on till the final whistle.

Australia, who finished third with eight points, will meet the Netherlands [seven points] in the play-off for the bronze medal while England [1] will play New Zealand [4] for the fifth-sixth spots.

China, unbeaten in the tournament, beat New Zealand in pouring rain to seal a spot in the final. The winning goal came in the 64th minute when Tang Chun Ling broke through the usually tight New Zealand defence and slammed home.

The win gave China nine points, the same as Argentina, but they took second place on the league table because of an inferior goal difference.

Final Pool Standing