LONDRES .- Con una arrollladora exhibición en el primer tiempo, Argentina goleó el domingo 7-1 a Sudáfrica y ratificó su candidatura a la medalla de oro en el hockey sobre césped femenino de los Juegos Olímpicos.

La capitana Luciana Aymar, la mejor jugadora del mundo, marcó el compás del triunfo de las "Leonas" al anotar dos goles, ambos obra de su genial control dentro del círculo.

El duelo fue liquidado en una primera mitad magistral de las campeonas mundiales.

Aymar, quien portó la bandera argentina en la ceremonia de apertura de los juegos, abrió la cuenta a los ochos minutos tras un córner corto que metió entre las piernas de la arquera sudafricana Marietta Rix.

Otra jugada de córner corto permitió a Josefina Sruoga añadir el segundo gol, a los 20, tras un despeje a medias de Rix.

Sudáfrica se acercó a los 23 en una jugada de contragolpe en la que Dirkie Chamberlain aprovechó un pase desde la derecha de Jen Wilson.

Pero Argentina respondió apenas un minuto después cuando Martina Cavallero remató una devolución de Daniela Sruoga.

Aymar (29) y Carla Rebecchi (30) aumentaron para dejar virtualmente sentenciado el partido antes del descanso.

Argentina reguló el trámite durante el segundo tiempo, maquillando el resultado con los goles de Noel Barrionuevo (62) y Silvina D'Elia (68), ambos tras córners.

También el domingo, Kim Lammers anotó dos goles y Holanda dio un primer paso para repetir su título olímpico al vencer 3-0 a Bélgica, debutante en una olimpiada.

Lammers es la jugadora holandesa con más partidos internacionales, integrante de la selección desde 2002. Pero nunca había estado en unos Juegos Olímpicos, ya que fue no que convocada para Atenas 2004 y una lesión en la rodilla la dejó fuera de Beijing 2008.

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  • The Netherlands' players display their gold medals following the medals ceremony for the women's field hockey at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • The Netherlands' players celebrate with their gold medals following the medals ceremony for the women's field hockey at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • Argentina's players display their silver medals following the medals ceremony for the women's field hockey at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • Sofia Maccari, Maartje Paumen

    Argentina's Sofia Maccari, right, is defended by the Netherlands' Maartje Paumen during a women's field hockey gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. The Netherlands won the match. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Mariela Scarone, Ellen Hoog

    Argentina's Mariela Scarone is tended to by the Netherlands' Ellen Hoog after she was hit in the face during their women's field hockey gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • Mariela Scarone

    Argentina's Mariela Scarone reacts after being hit in the face during the women's field hockey gold medal match against the Netherlands at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • The Netherlands' players celebrate their victory Argentina in the women's field hockey gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

  • Eva de Goede, Luciana

    The Netherlands Eva de Goede and Argentina's Luciana vie for the ball during the women's field hockey gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

  • Hannah Macleod, Clarissa Eshuis, Kayla Sharland

    Britain's Hannah Macleod, center, battles for the ball against New Zealand's Clarissa Eshuis, left, and Kayla Sharland during the women's hockey bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. Britain won 3-1 to take the bronze. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • Sarah Thomas

    Britain players celebrate a goal by Sarah Thomas, second right, during the women's hockey bronze medal match against New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. Britain won 3-1 to take the bronze. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

  • Samantha Harrison

    New Zealand's Samantha Harrison, front, walks away as Britain players celebrate winning the women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

  • Clarissa Eshuis

    Britain players celebrate after scoring a goal as New Zealand's Clarissa Eshuis, left, walks away during the women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

  • Britain's players celebrate after winning the women's field hockey bronze medal match against New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: Argentina v South Africa

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Kathleen Taylor of South Africa competes with Daniela Sruoga of Argentina during the Women's Hockey Pool WB Match W04 between Argentina and South Africa at the Riverbank Arena on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Martina Cavallero of Argentina trips whi

    Martina Cavallero of Argentina trips while attempting a shot during the preliminary round women's field hockey match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Argentina and South Africa at the Riverbank Arena in London on July 29, 2012. South Africa won the match 7-1. AFP PHOTO/ INDRANIL MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: Argentina v South Africa

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Silvina D'Elia of Argentina celebrates scoring with her team mates during the Women's Pool WB Match W04 between Argentina and South Africa at the Hockey Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: Argentina v South Africa

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Silvina D'Elia of Argentina celebrates scoring with her team mates during the Women's Pool WB Match W04 between Argentina and South Africa at the Hockey Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: Argentina v South Africa

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Noel Barrionuevo of Argentina celebrates scoring with her team mates during the Women's Hockey Pool WB Match W04 between Argentina and South Africa at the Riverbank Arena on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Hockey - Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament - Day Four - Riverbank Arena

    Great Britain's Alex Danson gets away from Argentina's Rocio Sanchez Moccia during the Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament at the Riverbank Arena, London.

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: China v Republic of Korea

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Yudiao Zhao of China celebrates scoring her team's second goal with her team mates during the Women's Pool WA Match W03 between China and Republic of Korea at the Hockey Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: China v Republic of Korea

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Yudiao Zhao of China celebrates scoring her team's second goal during the Women's Pool WA Match W03 between China and Republic of Korea at the Hockey Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

  • Olympics Day 2 - Hockey: China v Republic of Korea

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Hongxia Li of China competes with Young Ran Kim of Korea during the Women's Pool WA Match W03 between China and Republic of Korea at the Hockey Centre on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

El torneo se disputa en el Riverbank Arena, situado en el Parque Olímpico, en una cancha con un azul eléctrico y una barrera rosada. Se trata de la primera vez que el hockey olímpico se disputa en una cancha que no es de color verde.


Se seleccionó el rosado y azul para hacer contraste con la pelota amarilla, de modo que el juego sea más fácil para los competidores y con un mejor atractivo visual para los espectadores.


En otro resultado, Nueva Zelanda venció 1-0 a Australia.