Hollie Webb was the eventual match-winner for Great Britain, converting their fifth penalty in the 2-0 penalty shoot-out victory as they secured their first Olympic gold in the event.
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New Zealand pressed hard for an equaliser throughout the third quarter and into the early stages of the fourth, but found themselves unable to break through Britain’s rock-solid defensive line before the game’s key moment arrived in the 48th minute.
Great Britain and the Netherlands will fight for the women’s hockey gold medal at Rio 2016 after winning through their semi-finals on Wednesday (17 August). “I was eight, I know it increased interest in hockey”, Kate Richardson-Walsh said.
“You saw what happened to hockey in the country after that, though, it really picked up”.
But again the lead didn’t last with Crista Cullen firing in a laser that was simply too hot for Joyce Sombroek to handle in the Dutch goal.
Jubilant captain Kate Richardson-Walsh said her wife and team-mate Helen Richardson-Walsh’s determination had helped inspire those around her.
Cullen said: “Playing the New Zealanders, it is always going to be a physical battle”.
“Holland are a very experienced side”.
British officials responded to the alleged incident Tuesday morning with an e-mail to athletes warning them that it is “not worth the risk” to leave the Olympic village.
Great Britain’s Alex Danson has described reaching the final at the Olympic Games as “unbelievable”. We didn’t play well in the first three quarters – they battered us – but we were toughing it out.
The pair – Kate is 36 and Helen, 34 – tied the knot in 2013 and are believed to be the first married gay couple to compete at an Olympics.
Defying the odds, skipper Kate, 36, retired in 2014 but decided to make a comeback for Rio, whilst Helen is competing despite two lots of back surgery in 12 months.
Great Britain, bronze medalists in London four years ago, had never won a gold medal in women’s field hockey prior to this year. They have scored a total of 18 goals and conceded just five. “That’s what we want to do, showcase our sport and I’m so pleased it was a good game”. “We probably just fell a little bit short against a little bit more experienced New Zealand side”. “Overall we were very dominant”.
“We haven’t had any injuries, just bashes, and to go through the rigours and deliver is impressive”. Physically, mentally, we were the better team. I was just telling him (medic) to hurry up because my team needed me.
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With the addition of quarter-finals for the competition at these Games, the old system of classification play-offs was abandoned, with teams finishing outside of the top four classified in relation to one another based on how they finished in the pool phase.
