Hinch heroics seal GB hockey gold

Gold was secured as Hollie Webb converted Great Britain's fifth penalty, denying the Dutch a third successive Olympic title in the cruellest of endings.

Published : Aug 20, 2016 04:44 IST

Great Britain players celebrate after winning the hockey gold

A Maddie Hinch inspired Great Britain ended Netherlands' dominance of women's Olympic hockey with a 2-0 penalty shoot-out win in the Rio 2016 final.

Hinch made a string of fine saves in normal time as the match ended 3-3, before excelling in the shoot-out as the Dutch failed to register a single score.

Gold was secured as Hollie Webb converted Great Britain's fifth penalty, denying the Dutch a third successive Olympic title in the cruellest of endings.

A first-half penalty from Maartje Paumen was superbly saved by Hinch and soon after Lily Owsley gave Great Britain the lead with a poacher's finish.

Hinch was on hand to make a string of fine saves as the Dutch threat grew, and eventually she was beaten by Kitty van Male and Paumen.

Netherlands' advantage did not last long, though, as Crista Cullen levelled things up soon after Paumen had atoned for her earlier error.

However, Nicola White restored parity in the 52nd minute and with no further goals the match finished 3-3 and headed for the shoot-out.

The opening four penalties were all missed but Britain's Helen Richardson-Walsh made no mistake, before Hinds saved from Laurien Leurink and Margot van Geffen hit the post.

Her miss left Webb with the chance to wrap up victory and she duly converted at the second attempt as Britain upgraded their 2012 bronze to 2016 gold.