GB women keep hockey medal hopes alive with draw against Argentina

Having been hammered 5-1 by defending Olympic champions Germany in their opening match, GB could not have afforded another defeat in Pool B.

With only two nations progressing to the semi-finals Danny Kerry's side still have plenty to do to qualify and must rely on Argentina or Germany - ranked two and three in the world - dropping points.

Team effort: Great Britain's women celebrate after scoring against Argentina

Had Great Britain taken the lead in the seventh minute with the first chance of the game they could possibly have won.

Bowdon Hightown's Jo Ellis robbed Mariana Gonzalez Olivia at the top of the circle but with only the keeper to beat shot straight at Paola Vukojicic.

Three minutes later Argentina were ahead when a penalty corner rebounded off a post to Soledad Garcia who blasted home from a tight angle.

Leicester defender Crista Cullen had a penalty corner easily saved at the other end before the Leonas scored a second from a set-piece, Alejandra Gulla deflecting in Claudia Burkhart's pass in the 27th minute.

Argentina boast the world's best player in Luciana Aymar and she ran the show in midfield with her impressive ball control and strong running, with goalkeeper Beth Storry saving her 44th-minute reverse stick shot.

Seconds later Gonzalez Olivia was sin-binned for a challenge on Leicester midfielder Helen Richardson and while she was off GB took full advantage.

Cullen's 48th minute penalty corner was saved but Richardson's reverse-stick shot was tipped in by Wales forward Sarah Thomas and then Canterbury's Mel Clewlow drilled in another set-piece two minutes later.

Parity restored: Mel Clewlow (left) celebrates scoring the equaliser

Argentina were restored to their full number and immediately won a penalty corner but Storry saved well down to her right.

Rosario Lucjetti could have won it for Argentina with less than two minutes to go but despite diving in at the far post she could not get a touch to a right-wing cross.

Great Britain now face a crunch match against New Zealand on Thursday, before clashes against Japan and the US complete their Pool B matches.

Coach Danny Kerry said he was not too concerned with his side being 2-0 down at the interval as he had seen things in the first half which gave him optimism.

'Half-time was really straightforward, probably one of my easiest ones,' he said.

'We had played pretty well and Argentina had been very good at their penalty corners.

'The message was don't stop what you are doing, just do it better.

'We tidied up one thing and it was really talking about the next score and generating momentum.'

Captain Kate Walsh pin-pointed the temporary suspension of Gonzalez Olivia as being the turning point.

'I thought we had our tails up and when they went a player down we had the upper hand,' said the Slough defender.

'We did have chances to get the winner but, on the other hand, they had opportunities to win it. A draw is a fair result.'