Hosts reach dream hockey World Cup final

ROSARIO: Hosts Argentina will face the Netherlands in the women hockey World Cup final today with narrow semi-final triumphs.

The Dutch defeated England 4-3 on penalty strokes after extra time failed to break a 1-1 deadlock while Argentina defeated Germany 2-1.

Germany lost key defender Julia Mueller to a hip injury in the second minute of the match, allowing Argentina to take advantage of German defensive struggles. Argentine ace Luciana Aymar punished a Germany defensive lapse at the top of the circle by creating space for herself and driving inside the left post for Argentina’s first goal. Soledad Garcia scored Argentina’s second goal later in the second half as the semi-final was sealed.

In the other semi-final, Kim Lammers slotted the last stroke just inside the left post to put Netherlands into the final.In the penalty shoot-out, Helen Richardson, Crista Cullen and Chloe Rogers scored for England while skipper Kate Walsh and Charlotte Craddock missed. Maartje Paumen, captain Janneke Schopman and Maartje Goderie scored for Netherlands and Lidewij Welten missed, setting up Lammers to score with the last deciding stroke.England coach Danny Kerry acknowledged Netherlands’ superiority.“While it is difficult for me to say, I think Netherlands deserve their place in the final,” said Kerry.

Japan claimed the 11th place in the tournament by securing a 2-1 victory over Spain. For Spain, the result confirmed their worst ever finish at a women’s hockey World Cup event.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2010.