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Wednesday, September 27
Argentina wins 7-1 to set up final with Australia
Reuters
SYDNEY, Australia -- Argentina stormed into the
Olympic women's hockey gold medal game against Australia with a
7-1 thrashing of New Zealand on Wednesday.
Inspired by four goals from 5-foot-4 inch, 132-pound Vanina Oneto,
the Argentines produced their best performance to date.
In what is likely to be her final international tournament,
the 27-year-old forward turned on a classy display.
The best of her goals came in the 40th minute, as she left
three defenders in her wake and drove a superb reverse stick
shot past the hapless Helen Clarke.
Karina Masotta and Cecilia Rognoni also showed flashes of
brilliance up front as Argentina sent an ominous warning to the
defending champions.
Argentina has progressed to the final from a seemingly
impossible position after entering the "Super Six" medal pool
round with no points.
"We were not prepared to give up. We believe in our
strength and will always keep fighting," Argentine coach
Sergio Vigil said.
"The girls are very emotional today because they know they
already have a medal, but they will be fighting like lions in
the final."
New Zealand coach Jan Borren said he felt the pressure of playing
for a spot in the gold medal game had got to his players.
"There have only been two other Olympic campaigns for New
Zealand in women's hockey, in which all 13 games were lost, so
it was an unreal sort of experience to play in a game that
could get us to a gold or silver medal," Borren said.
"It's sad to see it end this way, but at least we played
ourselves into a position where we could do our ability proud."
Australians tune up
As if to answer the challenge thrown down by Argentina, the
Australians tuned up for the final by overwhelming China 5-1.
Nikki Hudson's two goals made her the tournament's leading
scorer with six, while Jenny Morris, Claire Mitchell-Taverner
and Julie Towers also found the net.
The defending champions have now scored 10 goals in their
past two matches and look to be right on track for their tilt
at history.
Victory on Friday would make Australia the first team to
win back-to-back golds since women's hockey was introduced to
the Olympics in 1980.
In other medal pool games, Barcelona gold medalists Spain
lost any chance they had of making the final when they
lost 2-1 to Netherlands.
Spain started the game aggressively, playing with four
forwards and no sweeper, but their confidence appeared to drop
when they were unable to grab an early goal.
With Carol Thate and Dillianne van den Boogaard making the
play, Netherlands gradually assumed control, two goals from
Susan van der Wielen sealing their victory.
The victory took Netherlands to third in the medal pool, and
they will take on Spain again on Friday for the bronze.
Playing in their first Olympics, China's fifth placing was
full of merit, while New Zealand's big loss relegated them to
sixth.
In the classification match for seventh and eighth, star
striker Natascha Keller found her best form to guide Germany to
a 2-0 victory against Britain.
The 1999 International Player of the Year posted her first
goal of the tournament with a brilliant run and reverse stick
shot in the 21st minute.
Another scintillating burst early in the second half
resulted in a penalty stroke, which Britta Becker duly
converted.
In the playoff for ninth and 10th, Atlanta silver
medalist South Korea saved some face with a 3-0 victory against
South Africa.
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