German fightback ends in draw

Germany equalised five minutes before the break when Natascha Keller beat three defenders, carrying from the centre line to the circle before laying off a short pass for Nadine Ernsting-Krienke to score from three metres out.

Mandy Smith finally hit the mark to put New Zealand back in front 2-1 converting her fourth scoring opportunity from Skippy McGregor’s free hit outside the circle in the 64th minute deflecting in from two metres.

New Zealand tried to run down the clock in the last five minutes. However, a lapse in concentration allowed Inga Moller to run into the circle where desperate defence by Rachel Sutherland resulted in a penalty corner for Germany.

Ernsting-Krienke saved a point for Germany’s with a deflection off Denise Klecker’s penalty corner drive. Wearing uncustomary dark navy uniforms with yellow numbers, South Africa needed a win or draw against Argentina after losses to the Netherlands and Germany, and a draw with New Zealand.

Laura Maiztegui scored first in the 11th minute, deflecting in a penalty corner with a low drag flick by Magdelena Aicega, deflected first by Vanina Oneto near the left post for Maiztegui to complete.

Vanina Oneto converted a penalty stroke in the 27th minute into the middle of the net. After the break, South Africa’s Pietie Coetzee scored from a penalty corner with a drag flick into the middle of the net with Mariela Antoniska in goal unsighted and immobile.

Kerry Bee scored the equaliser from the left in the 68th minute. Netherlands worked a corner with Dillianne van den Boogaard taking the strike.

Clover Maitland, in goal for Australia, saved with her left glove, rebounding to Julie Deiters who scrambled in a back stick shot in the 11th minute for Netherland’s first goal.

Alyson Annan, Renita Garrard and Nicki Hudson put shots millimetres to the side of goal in the first half, continuing Australia’s run of failing to complete goal scoring chances.

Rachel Imison played the second half in goal for Australia, in keeping with their practice of always substituting the goalkeeper in the second half. The second penalty corner of the second half was converted by Susan van der Weilen in the 47th minute, taking the rebound off Jenny Morris’ stick.

Triny Powell gave respectability to the Australians with an opportunist goal in the 57th minute pouncing on a loose ball in the circle, surprising the defence, making a goal from nothing.