World champions Argentina end Australia's hopes in women's hockey

Australia needed victory in last pool game, while a draw last night was enough to give Argentina top spot in Pool B

I / London August 07, 2012, 9:35 IST

World champions Argentina advanced to the semi-finals of the Olympic Games women's hockey tournament at the expense of Australia following a 0-0 draw between them here.

Australia needed a victory in the last pool game, while a draw last night was enough to give Argentina the top spot in Pool B, which saw a three-way tie on 10 points being resolved through goal difference.

Argentina took the top spot, New Zealand finished second and Australia was pushed to the third place. Just a one-goal difference separated New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand made the semi-finals for the first time in 32 years when they drew their last Pool B match with Germany 0-0. Germany were pushed to the fourth spot in the pool.

Argentina will play hosts Great Britain in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while New Zealand will take on defending champions Netherlands, who topped Pool A with a 2-1 victory over Britain.

Netherlands, who have never lost to Britain at an Olympics, rallied after conceding the first goal to win their fifth successive match.

Only the top place in the group was at stake as Britain were gifted a semi-final place earlier in the day when China, the only country that could still qualify ahead of them, lost 1-0 to Asian rivals Japan.

Japan's match-winner was scored by stalwart Rika Komazawa in the 54th minute.

The Dutch were the better side in the first half but Crista Cullen gave Britain the lead on 20 minutes from their only penalty corner of the match. Her low shot was perfectly placed.

Britain's goal had two or three narrow squeaks in the first half but the Dutch continued to build patiently, and when further scoring opportunities came, they took two of them.