China’s women’s hockey team upset Australia 3-2 at the Paris Olympics on Monday to secure its first semifinal berth in 16 years after it quickly recovered from a goal down.
The Netherlands got past Britain 3-1, Argentina beat Germany 2-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Belgium overcame Spain 2-0. The Dutch will now play Argentina while Belgium face China.
Top seed Australia was expected to get the chance to reach the gold medal match for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games. China’s last appearance in the semis was 2008 in Beijing.
Australia forward Alice Arnott opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the tournament off a penalty corner in the 10th minute, but China levelled a minute later with midfielder Ma Ning scoring from their first penalty corner.
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Dan Wen gave China the lead in the 20th before forward Zhong Jiaqi added another off a penalty corner in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Australia rallied but could not overcome the deficit, scoring only once more on a penalty corner.
“I didn’t expect the ball to come in this way, but I saw it, and thought I have to take it. I have to grasp the opportunity,” Dan said.
Argentina keeper Cristina Cosentino stood tall in the penalty shootout, with Germany unable to convert any of its four chances while Zoe Diaz de Armas netted the final score to push her side into the semis for the second Olympics in a row.
Argentina had levelled in the final minute when forward Julieta Jankunas converted a penalty corner two minutes after Germany defender Viktoria Huse sank a penalty stroke in a tightly contested defensive match-up.
The Netherlands picked Britain apart, leading in nearly every statistical category, with skipper Xan de Waard scoring in the first minute.
British forward Hannah French’s 20th minute equaliser kept the sides level for less than a quarter as Germany forward Luna Fokke found the net twice, making it 2-1 off a penalty corner in the 30th minute and wrapping up the victory in the 46th.
Belgium forward Delphine-Daphne Marien got the first goal of the match off a crossing shot in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, with Spain captain Xantal Gine forced to sit out after receiving a green card.
Three minutes later Belgium forward Charlotte Englebert expertly lifted the ball over keeper Clara Perez to seal the game for the Red Panthers.
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