 London: Maartje Goderie reprised her scoring role from the 2008 final against the home team in Beijing to seal the Netherlands` 1-0 victory over China in women`s field hockey at the London Olympics.
Goderie weaved through China`s defense and shot past goalkeeper Zhang Yimeng in the 10th minute yesterday -- her tenth international goal.
It was a repeat performance of the final at the 2008 Beijing Games, when Goderie scored to help the Netherlands beat China 2-0.
In earlier matches, 20-year-old defender Anna Flanagan smashed in a penalty corner in the 32nd minute to score the winning goal in Australia`s 1-0 win over the United States; South Korea snatched its first win of the tournament, against Japan; and Germany recovered after a sluggish performance against Australia Tuesday to beat South Africa 2-0.
The No. 1-ranked Netherlands dominated against China but could manage only one goal.
"It should have been 5 or 6-0," Dutch coach Max Caldas said. "I`m not happy that we had so many chances and not many goals. Otherwise I`m happy."
Australia defender Flanagan`s goal in the 32nd minute against the US was her second in two successive games, and Australian captain Madonna Blyth was hopeful about her team`s chances of progressing to the semifinals.
"We`re pretty positive with how we`re going," she said. "We keep improving. Hopefully we have a good game against Argentina.
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 3, 2012, 12:57
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