New Zealand on their Merry way to last four at Hockey World League with late win over Britain

New Zealand reached the semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Britain ©Getty Images

Olivia Merry’s last-gasp strike handed New Zealand a place in the semi-final of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World League Finals as they claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Olympic bronze medallists Britain in Rosario.

Just as the contest looked to be heading towards a shootout, Merry took advantage of the bright conditions as goalkeeper Maddie Hinch was left unsighted by her well-hit reverse-stick effort.

She was merely a spectator as Merry’s drive sailed into the net to secure a late win that their efforts during the match clearly merited.

The victory over the European champions ensured the Black Sticks set up a meeting with Germany in the last four.

Germany were also involved in a thrilling contest as Lisa Altenburg profited from careless defending by Australia to level their clash at 2-2 with a minute left on the clock before they edged their opponents in the resulting shootout.

Australia, ranked second in the world, had raced into a 2-0 lead inside the first 25 minutes but Altenburg halved the deficit shortly after the half-time interval and she then scrambled home an equaliser to keep their pursuit of the Hockey World League crown alive.

Elsewhere, Olympic silver medallists and hosts Argentina stunned defending champions The Netherlands as Delfina Merino's early goal helped them record a narrow 1-0 triumph.

They will go up against China in the semi-final after they beat South Korea 3-1.

“I had no idea that ball was going in, I just turned and shot,” Merry said.

“It was a tight angle.

“That is the best we have played this tournament and for us the tournament has only just really started.”

Germany fought back from two goals down before claiming a shootout win over Australia ©Getty Images

New Zealand started brightly and were able to dominate the opening stages, though they wasted the chance to take an early lead when they squandered a good opportunity from a penalty corner.

They continued to test Hinch, whose British goal was living a charmed life before the deadlock was eventually broken thanks to Black Sticks captain Anita Punt after 22 minutes as she found herself with space in the danger zone and lifted her shot beyond the goalkeeper’s grasp.

The goal was nothing less than their performance had deserved and that pattern of play continued after the restart, though for all their pressure, New Zealand failed to create many clear-cut openings.

Kirsten Pearce, however, spurned a glorious chance to double the lead as she was denied by Hinch when clean through, and she was made to rue that miss as Britain found an equaliser six minutes from time.

It came when Alex Danson’s effort was adjudged to have been illegally blocked in the area and Helen Richardson-Walsh stepped up to convert the penalty stroke to restore parity.

Their celebrations were short lived, though, as Merry popped up with a late winner, sparking joyous scenes at the final whistle.

The semi-finals will be played on Saturday (December 12) following a rest day tomorrow.