A mad minute of inexperience sent the Hockeyroos crashing to a 1-0 loss to defending champions Argentina at the Champions Trophy tournament in Sydney on Sunday.

With 54 seconds remaining in the first half, the relief of a having an Argentine goal disallowed by the video umpire soon turned to despair when Australia immediately coughed up the ball and conceded what proved to be the match-winning goal.

Coach Frank Murray admitted his young team failed to cope under the blowtorch in a crucial game-turning moment.

"They got a soft goal right at half time, after we got distracted by the video ref, so it's something that we've got to learn from," Murray said.

"The thing they need to understand is how to play the next minute of the game and there wasn't enough experience there to stand them in good stead at that point.

"They had to play the ball around the other side of the opposition (to prevent the turnover) and they just had to get it up the other end and hold it up there.

"We talked about that at half time and hopefully it won't happen too many more times."

The video umpire's decision, correct by Argentine coach Carlos Retegui's admission, contained an element of farce as it came after more than a dozen replays in an excruciating five-minute delay.

The Australians had the better of the opening half but failed to capitalise on a handful of penalty corners and a number of last passes in promising phases of play went awry.

The Hockeyroos appeared deflated when they returned to the pitch after the break but captain Madonna Blyth said her team had put the disappointment of the mad minute behind them.

"(The video umpire's decision) was out of our hands and we understood that but I think once you're asked to switch back on we didn't get quite up to the level and play quite how we should have," Blyth said.

"It's just an experience thing all over ... from the whole group in that situation.

"The loss will sting some of our young girls a little bit. Hopefully it will toughen them up for the next clash against China."

The Australians wore neon pink body suits and hot pink skirts with a printed ribbon motif on their hips to promote awareness of breast cancer.

In other second round action, Germany bounced back from their loss to the Hockeyroos to beat England 3-1 and Olympic champions the Netherlands beat China 1-0.

Argentina head the table on six points followed by the Netherlands on four, Australia and Germany on three, England on one and China have failed to get a point out of their opening two matches.

The world's top six-nations competing for the Champions Trophy have a rest day on Monday.

Samantha Broun
AAP