Australia wins gold on penalty strokes

There was no score in extra time as both teams missed several scoring opportunities,and Australia clinched the gold medal 4-2 on penalty strokes.

New Zealand star striker Katie Glynn and Krystal Forgesson missed New Zealand’s penalty strokes while Australia captain Madonna Blyth’s shot from the spot also went wide.

A calm Jessica Nicole finished it off with the last penalty stroke.

“There’s a rivalry between Australia and New Zealand and it’s always nice to beat them,” striker Megan Rivers said.

During the regulation time,Nicole shot the defending champions ahead off her team’s first short corner in the 9th minute.

New Zealand equalized in 48th when Eshuis brilliantly setup Samantha Harrison to deflect the ball in between goalkeeper Rachael Lynch’s pads off a reverse stick.

New Zealand wasted a couple of good chances but Glynn missed a deflection from close range and Stacey Michelsen’s powerful reverse flick flew over the goal.

Australia made a number of counter-attacks and finally Ashleigh Nelson pounced on a rebound off a 59th-minute short corner. Eshuis’ late equalizer took the game into extra-time.

“We were a bit flat in the first half,but we fought brilliantly in the second half,” New Zealand defender Emily Naylor said.

“It’s pretty tough for five to take penalty strokes and especially the goalkeeper.”

In the bronze medal match,midfielder Georgie Twigg’s first-half goal guided England to a 1-0 win over South Africa.

Twigg deflected Crista Cullen’s diagonal cross from the right against the run of play in the 13th minute in one of England’s rare field attempts in the first half.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” Twigg said after England victory.

South Africa wasted nine short corners,including four in succession in the first seven minutes – all missed by ace striker Pietie Coetzee.

Defender Kim Hubach was also off target with the next three short corners in the first half as South Africa time and again tested the England defense.

Coetzee missed two further short corners in the last 10 minutes and came close to equalizing in the 65th minute,but her reverse flick from the top of the circle had not enough power to beat goalkeeper Beth Storry.

“I am pretty disappointed with the result,” South Africa defender Lenise Marais said. “In the last half of the match we gave everything,but couldn’t score.”

The victory continued England’s run of never missing the podium since the sport was introduced in the Commonwealth Games in 1998.

England was a bronze medalist at Melbourne in 2006,but won silvers at Kuala Lumpur (1998) and Manchester (2002).