Women's Hockey World League: Great Britain edge past Germany to reach final
Sunday 21 June 2015 12:04, UK
Great Britain's women survived a barrage of late penalty corners to beat Germany 1-0 and reach the World League final in Valencia.
The victory means they will play China in the final and also confirms Danny Kerry's team's place at the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
Lily Owsley scored the winning goal midway through the first quarter, keeping her composure to score from close range after Sophie Bray found space in the circle and squared the ball to the 19-year-old with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Great Britain continued to push on in search of a second goal and were the better side during the first half. However, after the interval Germany stepped up their game and started to put the GB defence under pressure.
They held firm though and had chances to extend their advantage on the break, before Germany set up camp in the GB circle in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
That culminated in a succession of penalty corners in the closing stages, with GB keeper Maddie Hinch making a number of crucial saves.
Head coach Kerry said: "For 15 minutes we were awesome. After that we won ugly.
"That in itself is a quality which we have worked hard to drive into the team.
"We should have been out of sight with the clear chances we created. After we didn't take them the game became nervy with so much at stake.
"Our character showed through and we are now officially Rio-bound."
Britain, who are still unbeaten, will face China in the final on Sunday.
