Agency :
The Netherlands beat New Zealand 3-0 on Monday to qualify for the semi-finals of the women’s Olympic hockey tournament, joining India and Argentina in the last four.
Lidewij Welten, Frederique Matla and Lauren Stam scored for the Dutch, the 2016 silver medallists who are now set for a showdown against the winners of the match between Spain and Britain.
India pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Australia, and will face Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday after the South Americans got past the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012 with a 3-0 win over Germany.
Gurjit Kaur scored India’s winning goal from a first-half penalty corner, beating Australia goalie Rachael Lynch who had kept a clean sheet in the previous four matches.
Australia were unable to equalise in the second half despite ramping up the pressure and winning a number of penalty corners. “It’s a dream come true,” India goalkeeper Savita said, struggling for words.
Savita, who goes by one name, pulled the team through some of the hardest moments of the match with nine saves.
Argentina’s women team have never won an Olympic hockey gold medal, but clinched silver at the 2012 London Games and the 2000 Sydney Games, the latter being where they earned the nickname Las Leonas, or lionesses.
