It looked like goals from Lily Owsley and Crista Cullen were not going to be enough until Nicola White popped up with just over seven minutes to go.
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Olivia Merry pulled the New Zealanders back into it when she forced home a penalty corner resulting in even more sustained pressure on the Germany backline.
But Dutch skipper Maartje Pauman levelled also from the set piece five minutes later.
The 58-year-old was part of the team that won the team jumping gold at London 2012 on his sixth Olympic appearance. Helen scored the first goal in the shootout, a penalty stroke.
The first two for each side were saved as Hinch and Sombroek showed why they are regarded as two of the best around.
Both sides pushed for what would’ve been a victor but it wasn’t to be as Hinch denied four penalties before Webb’s golden moment.
It is likely to be Helen Richardson-Walsh’s last, too, after also playing in four Olympics.
Her miss left Webb with the chance to wrap up victory and she duly converted at the second attempt as Britain upgraded their 2012 bronze to 2016 gold.
“We did everything we needed to do”, said Alyson Annan-Thate, the Dutch coach. We have some tough characters taking them and we have probably the best goalkeeper in the world in penalty shootouts.
It’s bad to think about someone being put in danger while trying to unwind after a day of stress from participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but that’s what allegedly happened to an unnamed member of the British Olympic team, as reported by The Guardian.
“Today we had to defend, we had to dig trenches, but we changed things in the last quarter and it paid off”.
“We can confirm there has been an incident of theft involving a Team GB athlete returning to their accommodation”, a British Olympic Association spokesperson said, according to ABC News. We knew the Dutch would have their moments because they are a fantastic side.
“Goalkeeping has its highs and lows”, Hinch said.
Muhammad, who won bronze at London 2012, said: “It’s a awful moment when at the last second his points have gone on the board and the time has run out and there is nothing you can do about it”. I just give myself a game-plan for each player and I go out and execute that.
“Nicola and the girls have worked so hard for this moment and I know they will be focused and prepared for the biggest match of their lives”, said Shaw-born Nicola’s mum Gill.
Maddie Hinch did not allow a goal in the shootout, and Hollie Webb scored the clincher for Britain to claim its first gold medal in women’s field hockey. “That’s what we want to do, showcase our sport and I’m so pleased it was a good game”.
There was heartbreak though for Lutalo Muhammad, who was devastated after his gold medal dream was shattered in the final second of a dramatic men’s 80kg taekwondo final. No-one can ever take that away from us.
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The Netherlands were the heavy favorites heading into the Olympic tournament.
