Views from the pitch: Women’s field hockey quarterfinal

Not for the first time in Rio de Janeiro, Germany escaped defeat and stayed in the hunt for a third straight Olympic gold medal.

It’s Argentina’s first time in the semifinals in 11 Olympics, and Belgium last played for a medal in 1928.

Germany now play Argentina in the semi-finals while Belgium face Netherlands in the second match.

The New Zealand women’s hockey team advance to the semifinals in style after thoroughly beating Australia.

“I was hopeful they’d be able to do it in Rio but we were probably found a little bit short against a little bit more experienced New Zealand side”, he said.

Australia’s loss is New Zealand’s delight, especially after so much heartache at these Games.

Then, against the early momentum, the Kiwis forced a penalty corner and Anita McLaren delivered on her team’s first scoring chance by slotting a powerful flick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Florian Fuchs slid in the victor in the last few seconds to claim a 3-2 win for Germany after New Zealand had led 2-0.

Australia was struggling to connect passes and find receivers, but a backlash was expected and Kathryn Slattery hit in a rebound from a short corner to halve the deficit.

New Zealand went on the front foot from the opening minute and never slowed down.

Olivia Merry scored New Zealand’s fourth in the final quarter, though Australia got one back in the second to last minute.

But with just under five minutes to go in the game, one of the greatest comebacks in recent sporting history begun – and so did the heartbreak for New Zealand fans.

“That’s why I came back”, Whitelock said.

Both teams dived and sprinted for the ball, but Germany claimed possession with 10 seconds on the clock and broke away down the centre of the turf towards the right corner.

“The Hockeyroos’ long wait to add to their three Olympic gold medals just got longer”, their report read. Charlotte Stapenhorst attacked the circle, and Pia-Sophie Oldhafer’s hit was put in by Marie Mavers, then on another attack from the right, Lisa Altenburg was fed and smacked in a reverse hit.

They would take a 2-0 lead into half time.

The Americans brought some tension back when goalie Kristina Reynolds was finally bettered by Katelyn Falgowski’s shot in off the stick of German defender Anne Schroder, but there was less than four minutes to go and the US couldn’t threaten.

The Kookaburras were the most feared team in the field, and not just for taking the Champions Trophy and Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this year.