Great Britain's women were beaten 2-1 by Argentina in the semi-final of the women's hockey competition.
Danson strike proves in vain; bronze medal match with New Zealand
Great Britain's women were beaten 2-1 by Argentina in the semi-final of the women's hockey competition at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday night.
Having fallen behind to first half goals from Noel Barrionuevo and Carla Rebecchi, Britain were always chasing the game.
However, they were much improved in the second half and gave themselves late hope when Alex Danson nudged home five minutes from time to reduce the arrears.
But Argentina held on for victory and will now play Holland in the gold medal match after they came through a dramatic penalty shoot-out earlier in the day to beat New Zealand.
The Argentines, looking to improve on the silver medal they won in Sydney in 2000 and their bronzes in 2004 and 2008, are also looking to complete a golden treble by adding the Olympics to their world and Champions Trophy titles.
Confident start
Having made the more confident start, they hit the front on six minutes flicked a firm penalty corner strike through the legs of defensive runner Crista Cullen to beat goalkeeper Beth Storry.
They doubled the advantage shortly before half-time when Rebecchi somehow rode a challenge from the onrushing Storry close the byline and maintained control of the ball to squeeze it home from a narrow angle.
Argentina were happy to sit back and defend their lead in the second half, inviting the home side to break them down. But even when they did, which was not often, they failed to take the opportunity with Helen Richardson mis-hitting a shot off target when she was found in space.
Richardson made amends with five minutes to go with a pinpoint cross from which Danson could not miss, but it came too late and the home team could not force extra time.
Holland hold their nerve
It means Britain will now have to lift themselves for the bronze medal match against New Zealand after the Kiwis suffered shoot-out heartache against Holland.
New Zealand took an early lead from captain captain Kayla Sharland, but that was cancelled out by a well-worked Maartje Paumen strike from a penalty corner.
Krystal Forgesson restored New Zealand's lead 20 minutes from time, but Paumen again responded from a penalty corner, this time with a powerful rising flick.
After neither side could break through in extra time the contest went to shooot-out and, after Dutch goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek saved three of the Kiwis' first four efforts, Ellen Hoog scored the decisive goal for Holland.
