Team GB's women beat New Zealand to reach Olympic hockey final
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 18/08/16 1:21pm
Great Britain are guaranteed a silver medal after beating New Zealand 3-0 in the semi-finals of the women's Olympic Games hockey tournament.
A goal and a penalty stroke from Alex Danson and another penalty stroke from Helen Richardson-Walsh were enough to see Team GB through to a clash with the Netherlands, who beat Germany in a thrilling shootout.
Victory ensures Britain's best women's hockey performance, beating the bronze medal they earned with a win over New Zealand at London 2012, and they head into the final on a seven-game winning streak.
Great Britain's superb defence again continued to impress, keeping out four penalty corner attempts from the Black Sticks and making the most of their limited attacking chances.
Danson gave Britain the lead on 21 minutes when she reacted quickest to poke a rebound goalwards, although the last touch came off a New Zealand defender on the line.
They held on to the advantage in the third period despite nasty looking facial injuries to Crista Cullen and Georgie Twigg, who were both forced to leave the field to have blood injuries assessed, although neither is expected to miss the final.
There was also an injury scare for Richardson-Walsh who appeared to hurt her hamstring after scoring with GB's first penalty stroke, given for a professional foul by New Zealand captain Kayla Whitelock - she said after the game the hamstring was just sore.
That goal, two minutes into the final period, was followed four minutes later by another decisive penalty stroke, converted by Danson after Lily Owsley was cynically caught from behind.
Cullen, who had stitches in a head wound, said: "Playing the New Zealanders, it is always going to be a physical
battle.
"I've got a few stitches, but I've no idea how many. I was just telling him (medic) to hurry up because my team needed me. It's a good win, and now we move forward to the final.
"We have worked really hard on our culture, trying to create a winning mentality, and we have a huge amount of attacking threat, which we have demonstrated through numerous scorers in this tournament.
"It is difficult for an opposition team to cover everybody. To fight for an Olympic medal is what gets us up every morning, let alone to be in a gold medal match. We are hugely proud of where we have got. Our expectation coming here was a gold medal."
Earlier, the Netherlands defeated Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation play, although it took 14 shots before Ellen Hoog scored the game winner.
