Chinese Women Out of Top Six after 4-1 Defeat to Russia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 19, 2002

Chinese Women Out of Top Six after 4-1 Defeat to Russia

The Chinese women's ice hockey team saw their hope of finishing in top six at the Winter Olympic Games dashed after falling to Russia 4-1 in the 5th-8th play-offs here on Sunday.

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The Chinese women's ice hockey team saw their hope of finishing in top six at the Winter Olympic Games dashed after falling to Russia 4-1 in the 5th-8th play-offs here on Sunday.

China, who finished fourth at the Nagano Games four years ago, enjoyed a fine start as Yang Xiuqing scored with a close-range shot just one minute and 12 seconds into the game.

Russia went all out for an equalizer the rest of the first period but Chinese goalie Guo Hong blocked all their 12 shots to keep it a clean sheet for China at the end of the period.

The Russian women's efforts finally paid off early in the second period when they scored three consecutive goals in less than three minutes.

Two minutes and seven seconds after the game resumed, forward Larisa Mishina found the net with a slap shot amid a scramble before the Chinese goal to level it 1-1 for Russia. Kristina Petrovskaia's shot at 24:29 was deflected by the skate of a Chinese defender and sailed past the helpless Guo, who blocked 37 out of the 41 Russian shots in the game, before Tatiana Burina added another 20 seconds later to give Russia a 3-1 lead.

"The lack of experience was the reason that we conceded three goals in less than three minutes," said the Chinese head coach Yao Naifeng. "Our players should not stay so close to the Chinese goalto defense, which allowed the Russians a lot of shooting opportunities."

China, who eyed a top six finish before the eight-squad women'sice hockey competition, conceded another goal in the third and final period to record their third defeat at the 19th Winter Olympic Games.

They lost to Finland 4-0 on Tuesday and were beaten 12-1 by the United States on Thursday before drawing Germany 5-5 Saturday.

"It is a fact that we have failed to make top six here, but I think that the Chinese players have done their best," Yao added.

China will play Germany or Kazakhstan in the 7th-8th decider on Tuesday. Enditem

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