Australia defeated USA on a shootout to progress to Saturday’s women’s hockey World Cup final in the Hague.
Goalkeeper Rachael Lynch saved three of USA’s shootout attempts leaving Jody Kenny to apply the coup de grace and finish the decider 3-1.
The game finished 1-1 in normal time thanks to a second-half equalizer from Kelsey Kolojejchick. The striker received the ball 40 yards out in the inside left channel and attacked the Australian defence to deliver a loopy shot from the right side of the circle into Australian skipper Madonna Blyth.
The shot took Blyth’s body and went goalwards. Depsite Australia protests, the goal stood with two minutes to play.
Kolojejchick had earlier produced a tidy finish to equalise at 1-1 in the 48th minute.
Unfortunate deflections were also behind both Australia goals. Kellie White’s shot in the 33rd minute went in off defender Lauren Crandall while Anna Flanagan’s 53rd minute corner found a defender and completely wrong-footed the Jackie Kintzer.
