Netherlands 1 drew China 1
Goals: NED – Ellen Hoog PC 28m; CHN – Chunling Tang FG 30m

China has hung on to draw 1-all with the highly fancied Netherlands in what was the upset of the tournament to date.

The Dutch were expected to continue their 100 percent start to the tournament, but found stern opposition in China under warm and sunny skies in Canberra.

With the point almost certainly assuring the Dutch qualify for Sunday’s final, more concern might be for the injury to Fatima Moreira De Melo than the dropped two points.

Moreira De Melo went off in the eighth minute after being struck with a lifted ball by team mate and captain, Minke Booij, and did not return.

While the Dutch still went on to control the majority of field position and possession for the remainder of the match, they lacked creative options in attack that Moreira De Melo offers.

The Netherlands coach, Marc Lammers, was unsure of the extent of the injury but feared he could have lost his playmaker for the remainder of the tournament.

Stats
Goal Shots
NED 9; CHN

Penalty Corners
NED 5; CHN 0

Circle Penetrations
NED 23; CHN 20

Germany 2 defeated Korea 1
Goals: GER – Kerstin Hoyer FG 8m, Marion Rodewald PC 70m; KOR – Eun Sil Kim PC 7m

Germany has pulled off a dramatic victory over Korea, 2-1, leaving it until after the siren to clinch victory.

The Germans converted their second penalty corner after the siren, courtesy of a scrappy goal mouth scramble that Marion Rodewald touched in, leaving the Koreans pointless after four matches.

The match had started at a frantic pace; with neither side looking like they were languishing at the bottom of the table.

Korea scored first thanks to Eun Sil Kim’s powerfully struck penalty corner, but it was cancelled out within a minute as Kerstin Hoyer smartly deflected Nadine Ernsting-Krienke’s cross into the roof of the net.

Germany had thought they had taken the lead earlier in the half, with both teams making it back to halfway before the second umpire controversially stepped in to disallow the goal.

Germany will be hopeful of now beating China on Saturday to move into the playoff for third on Sunday.

Stats
Goal Shots
GER 7; KOR 8

Penalty Corners
GER 10; KOR 9

Circle Penetrations
GER 18; KOR 36

Argentina 1 drew Australia 1
Goals: ARG - Alejandra Gulla PC 6m; AUS – Madonna Blyth PC 63m

Australia made a remarkable comeback, and then hung on, to draw 1-1 with the world number two, Argentina, setting up a thrilling final round of matches on Saturday.

Argentina were dominate throughout, but like the previous days Australia’s defence stood firm, toughing it out to only allow Argentina a lone goal.

It came early, with Alejandra Gulla smartly making a reverse stick deflection over Australia’s goalkeeper, Rachel Imison with a well taken penalty corner variation.

As it turns out the variation came back to bite them, as Australia used exactly the same variation late in the match for Madonna Blyth to level the match.

Luciana Aymar showed why she is widely tipped to take out her third WorldHockey player of the year title at the end of this week, totally running the show in the midfield.

Stats
Goal Shots
ARG 4; AUS 2

Penalty Corners
ARG 10; AUS 1

Circle Penetrations
ARG 31; AUS 19