Women's Hockey: England face tough quarter-final tie after heavy defeat by Argentina

England suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat to hosts Argentina at the Women’s Champions Trophy in Mendoza.

Goals from Silvina D’Elia, Carla Rebecchi, Rosario Luchetti and Delfina Merino cancelled out Sophie Bray’s opener in a defeat that confirms England must face the top side from Pool A in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

England were holding on at 1-1 with nine minutes remaining but Susannah Townsend was shown a yellow card and the flood gates opened to send her side bottom of Pool B.

In hot conditions, with a passionate and vocal home crowd, it was the hosts who flew out of the blocks and put England immediately on the back foot, with goalkeeper Kirsty Mackay forced into early action.

But England struck first against the run of play when Townsend ran through the middle before feeding Bray to slot home.

England held on to their lead for the rest of the quarter, despite Argentina's dominance, but it was 1-1 early into the second quarter when Rebecchi powered home a drag-flick from a penalty-corner.

Luciana Aymar caused all sorts of problems for England, who managed to hold out to keep the score level at half-time, and they make have taken the lead early in the third quarter when Lily Owsley pulled a glorious chance wide.

And in the final seconds of the quarter, England keeper Mackay again had to be at her best to keep out a fierce strike from D’Elia.

England began the final 15 minutes strongly but couldn’t make the most of their chances and they were soon made to pay as Argentina turned on the style.

A smart penalty corner allowed D’Elia to strike home and, with Townsend off the pitch, the hosts struck twice more as Luchetti deflected past Mackay and Merino’s flick found the net.