LONDON, August 6 – The semi-final and ranking match lineup for the women’s hockey competition at the 2012 Olympic Games is now known:
Wednesday August 8
08:30 Women’s 9-10 Japan vs South Africa
11:30 Women’s 7-8 Korea vs Germany
15:30 Women’s Semifinal Netherlands vs New Zealand
20:00 Women’s Semifinal Argentina vs Great Britain
Friday August 10
08:30 Women’s 11-12 Belgium vs United StatesS
11:30 Women’s 5-6 China vs Australia
15:30 Women’s Bronze Medal
20:00 Women’s Gold Medal Match
New Zealand secured a semi-final place from pool B with a 0-0 draw with Germany. Blacksticks goalkeeper Bianca Russell made some key saves as Germany pressed hard in the second half. The Kiwis go into the semi-finals without conceding a single penalty corner goal.
That result set up the Argentina vs Australia match to decide the other pool B semi-final place. Following a 0-0 draw with the teams level on points, Argentina’s goal difference means las Leonas are through to their fourth consecutive Olympic Games semi-final, as pool B winners.
[img_assist|nid=5263|title=The crowd spurred us on|desc=Japan captain Yukari Yamamoto – hockeyimages.co.uk|link=node|align=right|width=220|height=146]Japan’s unexpected 1-0 win over China, their first in a major competition, ruled the Beijing silver medallists out of the semi-finals leaving both Netherlands and Great Britain to go through from pool A.
Great Britain’s 2-1 loss to Netherlands means the Dutch finish top of pool A, with GB second.
The USA blotted their copybook at a tournament where they have been generally competitve by capitulating 7-0 to South Africa. Pietie Coetzee scored twice taking her to 248 goals in 253 international appearances. USA will play for 11/12th after finishing bottom of pool B. Their only points coming from a win over world champions Argentina.
Belgium were condemmed to the 11/12th playoff vs USA by a 3-1 loss to Korea. Kim Jong Eun scored her second goal of the game for Korea in the final seconds on a penalty corner breakaway after Belgium had substituted their goalkeeper.
