By Mike Rowbottom

Alex Danson_injures_shoulder_v_Argentina_London_2012_test_event_May_6_2012May 6 - Great Britain's women beat world champions Argentina 2-0 for the second time in two days today to win the Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament at the Riverbank Arena – but at a huge cost.


Crista Cullen scored twice but damaged her ankle and leading scorer Alex Danson (pictured above) picked up what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

Coach Danny Kerry will now select his 16-woman line-up for the Olympics - plus two reserves - from a squad of 28, with an announcement expected on May 18.

Cullen (pictured) reappeared on crutches at the end of the game, but Danson, another of the team's key performers, left the arena without returning.

Crista Cullen_limps_off_injured_v_Argentina_London_2012_test_event_May_6_2012
"Crista will be fine. Alex? Who knows, I don't know," said Kerry.

Both Cullen goals came from penalty corners in the second half at the Olympic Park's Riverbank Arena and she rolled her ankle in the act of scoring the second, ending her participation with a suspected sprain.

Danson hurt her shoulder in a collision with an Argentine defender minutes later and left the field with a clear expression of agony on her face.

The 26-year-old has a history of shoulder trouble dating back to before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The GB team has yet to confirm the severity of her injury.

There is an added complication: the British team's doctor is himself off sick, and not at the venue to treat the players.

"I don't think Crista's injury is overly serious but Alex, we know less about," said Kerry.

"She has a history of shoulder problems so I need to go and find out about that."

Team GB_celebrate_winning_London_2012_test_event_May_6_2012
Britain, who lost to Argentina in February's Champions Trophy on Argentine soil, have won all four of their Olympic test event matches without conceding a goal, but Argentina are missing several key senior players including playmaker Luciana Aymar.

Captain Kate Walsh said: "It feels a bit bittersweet for me - brilliant to win, get another clean sheet and finish in a professional manner, but it's tinged with sadness for the two injuries.

"Crista scored two goals today and Alex has been on fire for the last five or six years, they are key players. But you know if somebody's out, somebody else will step up. That will carry us through the Games in the summer."

Britain's men beat India 2-1 for bronze while Germany claimed gold with a comprehensive 5-2 victory over reigning Olympic champions Australia. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2012: Gilbert and Cullen send Britain into Olympic hockey test final
May 2012: Riverbank Arena pitch will be perfect for the Games, says GB women's hockey coach
April 2012:
 Britain's Olympic women's hockey test event squad named