Birmingham, August 6: The morning session began with a little bit of history as Kenya’s women secured their first ever Commonwealth games hockey victory. This was followed by South Africa pipping Wales to 7th place in a tight encounter. The evening session started with England booking their spot in Sunday’s gold medal match with a shoot-out win over New Zealand. The second semi-final also went all the way, as Australia came out on top.
Indian women lose to Australia in shoot-out 1-3 in semi-final
Ghana 2 (2) Kenya 2 (3) (Classification 9-10 women): Kenya grabbed their first ever Commonwealth Games victory after a shoot-out against Kenya.
The first quarter started brightly for Kenya as Grace Bwire scored the African’s first ever Commonwealth Games goal to put them ahead in the 5th minute. A tight period ensued, and the first quarter ended with Kenya a goal to the good.
Despite some early Kenyan pressure in the second quarter Ghana pulled themselves level, Nafisatu Umaru striking from a penalty corner 4 minutes before half-time. Umaru went close yet again before the close of the period, striking the post.
Ghana got themselves ahead after a minute of the third quarter, Mavis Berko finding the goal from another penalty corner. Ghana did have a chance to extend their lead before the period was up but could not capitalise after a Millicent Adhiambo save in the Kenyan goal.
With nothing to lose Kenya shook off the shackles in the final quarter and began to assert themselves. They made the period of sustained pressure tell when Flavia Mutiva restored parity between the African nations 2 minutes before the end.
It was to be a shootout that would decide 9th and 10th place. Umaru (GHA) scored, Okumu (KEN) then missed, Opoku (GHA) saw her effort saved, Chebet (KEN) scored, Berko (GHA) scored, Okumu (KEN) had her shot saved, Copson (GHA) missed, Guchu (KEN) scored, Narkour (GHA) timed out, Owiti (KEN) had her effort saved, Chebet (KEN) scored, and Umaru (GHA) was timed out, meaning Kenya won 3-2 via the shoot-out.
Wales 0 South Africa 1 (Classification 7-8 women): South Africa edged a tight affair to secure a 7th place finish.
It was Wales who exerted the early pressure as they looked for a win which would have handed them their best ever Commonwealth Games finish. Isobel Webb and Amy Burton both had chances but neither found the breakthrough. South Africa responded with some attacking intent of their own but the first period ended goalless.
In a reverse of the first quarter it was South Africa that started on the front foot in the early exchanges of the second period. Kristen Paton and Jean-Leigh Du Toit both had efforts but were greeted with a steely Welsh defence. Wales then looked to regain a foothold in the match, Sarah Jones had 2 efforts saved by Phumelela Mbande. A second goalless period was confirmed as the players headed off for half-time.
After some early South African pressure the deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute of the tie, Lilian Du Plessis with the strike. Wales hadn’t been helped by an earlier green card shown to Isabelle Howell, as South Africa capitalised on being a woman up.
With work to do in the final quarter Wales were not able to create too much in the way of clear-cut opportunities in the final period. South Africa saw the game out well and ensured they scraped a narrow victory and make 7th place their own.
England 0 (2) New Zealand 0 (0) (Semi-final women): England booked their place in the final after a dramatic shoot-out victory.
Both sides looked up for a game that would guarantee the victors a medal. This was typified by 5 penalty corners – 2 for England and 3 for New Zealand – inside the first 5 minutes of the opening quarter. Chances kept on coming but it was New Zealand who looked the more likely, although they were kept out by a steely England defence and an inspired Madeleine Hinch.
It would prove to be a much tighter second quarter, with no clear cut chances or attempts on goal in the 15. England were briefly down to 10 when Giselle Ansley was shown a green card but the Black Sticks could not capitalise.
The third period opened up the game once more as both sides looked to assert dominance in the tie. New Zealand had the better of the chances in the initial stages of the period, before England began to counter-punch, creating openings for themselves through Ansley and Peel. The Black Sticks stood strong and Megan Hull had a go at breaking the deadlock in the 42nd minute from a penalty corner. She was denied by the outstanding Hinch once more.
While both sides would have been forgiven for becoming conservative in the final quarter, it was quite the opposite as both sides tried to kill the game off before a shoot-out would be required. Both sides had multiple penalty corners and openings however both defences and keepers Hinch and Grace O’Hanlon proved to be too tough to beat. The semi-final would be decided by a shoot-out.
Ralph (NZL) missed the opening shot, but so did Howard (ENG). Hinch saved Tynan’s (NZL) effort, before O’Hanlon returned the favour to deny Owsley (ENG). Doar (NZL) was denied by a fantastic Hinch save, which was followed up by Petter (ENG) tucking away her shot. Hinch made another spectacular save to crucially deny Shannon (NZL) and Martin (ENG) became the England hero as she slotted home to send her side to Sunday’s final.
Hannah Martin (ENG): “Amazing, it was absolutely incredible. I just tried to put the ball in the back of the net and Maddie [Madeleine HINCH] saving the shootouts was incredible. It made my job a lot easier.
“We knew how tough they were, and we wanted to take our chances. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that today, but we kept it really tight and went to shoot out. We know what we can do when it goes to shootout.
“We will regroup, recover, do everything we can and come out on Sunday and give it a shot. We have a home crowd, an opportunity to make history for us because we’ve never won gold at this tournament. I’m hugely excited of the opportunity.”
Madeleine Hinch (ENG): “I’m at the back end of my career now, and this is something I’ve been so desperately wanting my whole career, and been so close to a couple of times.
“I really hope it goes our way, but whatever the outcome is, as long as we go out there and put out an incredible 60-minute performance, we can be really proud of what we’ve achieved already here.”
Grace O’Hanlon (NZL): “It was always going to be a good game. A repeat of the last Commonwealth Games [semifinal, which New Zealand won in a shoot-out] and on home turf for England, so it was always going to be a scrap.”
Megan Hull (NZL): “One word that comes to me is proud, because that performance out there tonight was nothing short of incredible from our girls.
“There’s a lot of hurt and a few shattered hearts out there but boy, I’m proud to be a part of this group and what we achieved out there tonight.
“We put literally everything into it, our heart, our grit [but] sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. We’ll go home tonight and take the time we need.
“I know the character of our group and I know we’ll be back fighting for that bronze.”
Australia 1 (3) India 1 (0) (Semi-final women): Australia will be guaranteed a medal after they edged past India via a shoot-out to set up a final against England.
Whilst it was India who managed to get the first penalty corner of the game it was the Hockeyroos who got the scoring started, as Rebecca Greiner deflected the ball home via a Mariah Williams cross. Chances for both sides followed but the score line stayed at 1-0 after an open first 15.
As India looked to get back into the tie Aleisha Power in the Hockeyroos net was called into action twice in quick succession. Further chances fell the way of the Asian side but Australia managed to get to half-time unscathed.
A re-energised Australia came back out after the break looking to put their foot on the gas. The Hockeyroos carved out multiple opportunities, forcing penalty corner after penalty corner, Maddy Fitzpatrick was single-handedly denied on multiple occasions.
Despite the Aussie barrage India did manage to restore parity between the sides in the 49th minute as Vandana Katariya deflected the ball home. Being pegged back did not seem to deter the Kookaburras as they went back to their work, peppering the Indian goal. It was by no means completely one-way traffic however as Power in the Aussie net was again called into action, producing a big save to deny a Kaur Gurjit drag flick. A video referral decision in the last minute would have had Indian hearts in mouths but deciding whether to award between a penalty corner and stroke after the ball hit a defender’s body a corner was given and India cleared their lines.
Jocelyn Bartram was introduced in the place of the impressive Power prior to the shoot-out. Malone’s (AUS) initial shot was saved, however in a dramatic turn of events the clock hadn’t started and she was allowed a re-take, making no mistake this time around. Lalremsiami (IND) put her shot wide, while Nobbs (AUS) calmy finished past Savita in the Indian goal. Bartram stepped up to make a huge save to deny Neha (IND), and this was backed up by Lawton (AUS) putting the Hockeyroos 3-0 up. Navneet (IND) had to score but couldn’t, firing wide as Australia booked their spot in Sunday’s final.
Amy Lawton (AUS): “It was intense. It was teamwork out there and a hard-fought game.
“It’s always hard against India who are a great team but stoked to come out with the win.
“It’s been really process-driven, our team, and this has been stepping stones all the way through to here. We took it game by game and we are really excited to be playing in the gold medal match on Sunday.”
Kaitlin Nobbs (AUS): “It was exhilarating and hard fought from both ends.
“Fortunately I’ve had a bit of practice at penalties, so I felt a little bit comfortable.
“We’ve got a really good process that we keep developing so every time we go out there we are feeling more and more confident and got the goal in the end.”
Day 9 preview:
Men’s semi-final day begins at 9:00 as Scotland take on Ghana in the 9th/10th classification match. The morning is concluded by Pakistan vs Canada at 11:15 in the 7th/8th classifier. Semi-final action gets underway at 18:00 when India take on South Africa. The final game of the day sees 6-time gold medalists Australia take on hosts England in a blockbuster clash.
All times are listed in GMT.
FIH release
