Hock: Hockeyroos' Olympic dreams shattered

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2008
Hock: Hockeyroos' Olympic dreams shattered

By Laine Clark

BEIJING, Aug 18 AAP - It all ended in tears for the Hockeyroos at the Beijing Olympics tonight.

A distraught Australian women's hockey team could not hide their emotions after they
were knocked out of the medal round by a fiesty China.

The three-time Olympic champions missed out on a semi-final berth despite coming back
from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw at the Beijing Olympic Green Hockey Stadium tonight.

But the shattered Hockeyroos knew their efforts had gone unrewarded, with world No.5
China qualifying ahead of Australia for Wednesday night's semi-finals thanks to a superior
goal difference.

It was a must-win match for the rebuilding Australian women - never an easy task against
the hosts backed by a rabid home crowd.

Australia had a 31-5 overall record against China before the match, losing their last
match against the Olympic hosts way back in 2006.

But the improving Chinese were also always going to be a different proposition tonight.

In a match that China had to draw to join the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-finals,
all the pressure was on an Australian side with 10 Olympic rookies.

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KEYWORD: OLY08 HOCW AUST NIGHTLEAD

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