Australia set-up a women's World Cup field hockey final against the Netherlands on Friday thanks to a 1-0 extra-time golden goal win over Spain in a match disrupted by a power blackout.
The floodlight failure occurred with just seconds to play in normal time with Spain still to take a corner.
After a 14-minute delay, Australia defended the corner well to send the match into extra time.
PHOTO: AFP
Australia went straight onto the attack and won a corner from where Suzie Faulkner deflected a shot from Angie Skirving to score the crucial goal.
"It was an even game, it depended who got the luck and we got the break and Suzie Faulkner got the goal," said Australia coach Frank Murray. "Spain were unlucky. The bizarre circumstances of losing the lights may have upset their final corner but you accept it and move on."
Spain were given little chance against the Aussies after skipper Silvia Munoz had broken her leg against England, but stand-in captain Nuria Camon led by example.
Although Australia dominated possession, Spain had five corners to one in the first half.
They were indebted, however, to goalkeeper Maria Rosa who kept out a number of Australian raids.
The Dutch made the final after a convincing 3-1 success against Argentina.
"We are in with a chance. Against the Netherlands we will need to convert the penetrations into the circle," said Murray ahead of today's final. "We penetrate better than everyone so we have to concentrate on that issue."
Netherlands reached the break a goal to the good after the brilliant Sylvia Karres defied the close attentions of two Argentina defenders to deflect the ball into the goal.
After half time, Argentina knocked the ball around and Agustina Garcia set up a great chance for Alejandra Gulla, however the Netherlands defense held firm on the goal line.
Miek Van Geenhuizen then crushed Argentina's hopes with a stunning tomahawk goal from a narrow angle.
Karres capped a great match by setting up a move that led to Kim Lammers scoring from close to the left post with 10 minutes remaining.
Argentina managed a consolation goal from Maria Hernandez.
USA continued their impressive run in the tournament by upsetting Olympic champions Germany 1-0 in the 5-8 playoffs.
Tiffany Snow scored the winning goal as the States set up a fifth-place clash with Japan.
Kaori Chiba and Sakae Morimoto were the Japanese heroines, scoring one each as Japan beat England 2-0, confining England to a battle for seventh place against Germany.
USA started the tournament ranked 12th in the world but Snow smashed the ball home after the break following fine work by Kate Barber to stun the Olympic champions.
USA and Japan now both have a realistic chance to qualify for the next Champion's Trophy.
Meanwhile, China overpowered South Africa 3-0 in the 9-12 playoffs.
They play South Korea next for ninth spot after the Koreans beat India 4-1.
South Africa and India will face off to try to avoid the tournament's wooden spoon.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one
RSS