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Women's Hockey World Cup: Germany beat Australia, meet Argentina last four

Last updated on: September 08, 2010 10:14 IST

Germany beat Australia 1-0 in Pool A on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the women's hockey World Cup, where they will meet hosts Argentina.

Favourites Netherlands, the reigning World and Olympic champions, face England in the other semi-final after making sure of first place in the pool with a 5-2 victory over Japan that gave them a 25-8 goals record in five matches.

The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday.

Germany defender Tina Bachman scored the only goal from a 43rd-minute penalty corner in a tight final Pool A match.

The Australians qualified for the fifth-place decider against South Korea.

Maartje Paumen took her goals tally to 10 when she flicked in two penalty corners as the Dutch ran up a 5-0 lead before relaxing and allowing Japan's Kaori Chiba to score twice in two minutes in reply.

New Zealand rout India

A hapless India suffered its fourth defeat in the tournament, losing 0-3 to New Zealand in its final Pool A match.

Skipper Kayla Sharland struck twice, in the 44th and 55th minutes, while Katie Glynn scored in the 52nd after India succumbed to yellow card fever in the second half, as first Subhadra Pradhan was sent off then Chanchan Thokchom.

It was New Zealand's first victory in the tournament, which took them to fourth place in Pool A and the Black sticks will go for the 7-8 playoff next Friday against China.

New Zealand coach Mark Hager believes his team has fulfilled their expectations for the tournament.

"We had expectations of a top eight finish and we have achieved that," Hager said.

Sharland, who became the first Kiwi player to score against India at a World Cup tournament since Tina Bell-Kake scored twice in 1998, was delighted with the result.

"It is great to come away with the win and while it was not the prettiest hockey at the end of the day we have three points," Sharland said.

India coach Sandeep Somesh agreed the yellow cards affected his team.

"It is difficult to defend against an attacking team when you have players off the pitch for long periods, Somesh said.

Source: REUTERS
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