Netherlands got there despite falling throwing away a two-goal lead against South Africa. 

But the world's top-ranked team triumphed in the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Kelly Jonker, who had scored a hat-trick against Ireland on Thursday (June 7), began where she had left off by giving the Dutch the lead in just the third minute.

It looked as if the reigning Olympic champions would win easily when captain Maartje Paumen made it 2-0 with ten minutes on the clock.

But with three minutes of the first half remaining Pietee Coetzee gave her team a lifeline as she halved the deficit.

Then, with 55 minutes on the clock, Coetzee struck again - this time from a trademark penalty corner high into the net, the 240th of her international career.

In the shoot-out, it was all square after two shots each when South Africa's Leslie-Ann George saw her effort go narrowly wide. 

The Netherlands' Willemijn Bos netted the next and South Africa's Tarryn Bright saw her shot saved by Flortje Engels, leaving Eva de Goede to book their place in the final.

In the other semi, Australia upset the world rankings as they also overcame a two-goal deficit.


Despite being ranked four places below the Germans, they came from behind in dramatic style to take the game 3-2 in the dying seconds.

Maike Stockel's fifth minute goal gave Germany the early advantage and the European silver medal winners went two goals up thanks to a goal from Eileen Hoffman almost midway through the second half. 

But the Germans were stunned as Emily Smith, Kobie McGurk and Anna Flanagan all found the target in the final 16 minutes, with the last goal coming after the hooter had gone as Flanagan converted a penalty-corner.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames,biz


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