China roars into Olympic women's hockey semis

中国女曲在刚刚结束的一场比赛中靠小将李红侠的２个进球，以２：２战平澳大利亚队，凭借２个净胜球的优势排名Ａ组第二，历史上第二次闯入奥运会女曲比赛四强。

The sixth-ranked China squeezed their way into the semifinals of the Olympic women's hockey tournament when they drew 2-2 with three-time Olympic titlists Australia here on Monday.

Pool A leaders the Netherlands beat Spain 2-0 and qualify the semifinals with a full 15 points. Athens bronze medalists Argentina edged New Zealand 3-2, ranked following the defending champions Germany who downed Japan 1-0 to top Pool B.

Both with ten points in Pool A, China qualify for the semifinals with superior goal differences. The fourth-ranked Australia were shut out of medal contention, only to play for the fifth and sixth place.

With medal hopes shattered, Australian coach Frank Murray was very upset. "It is an even game. I'm disappointed because We had lots of chances." "China are a very good team and they deserve the semifinals," said the 57-year-old man, with trails of tears still left in his eyes.

It was the hardest ever match for both sides. Not until the 30th minute that Li Hongxia opened the scoring on a field goal. She added her second in the 38th minute.

Australia got the goals from Casey Eastham and Sarah Young. All the Australian girls burst into tears at their failure for semifinals. Captain Nicole Hudson said they had targeted on the gold, but they were so desperate that they were out of medals. "This is life,"she added.

China's coach Kim Chang-back said they did very well in the first half, and they could have broadened the margin in the second half. They had to learn a lesson from it.

In the other games of the day, Britain drew with United States 0-0. This was the first game which saw the nil draw in the tournament.

South Korea picked up their first three points with a 5-2 win against South Africa. However, South Africa should feel somewhat relaxed that they finally opened their goal account after four blanks.

The first win puts South Korea fifth in Pool A to play for 9-10 positions against Japan, while South Africa will be involved in a 11th-12th place play-off with New Zealand.

China next play Germany and the Netherlands take on Argentina in semifinals on Wednesday.

中国女曲在刚刚结束的一场比赛中靠小将李红侠的２个进球，以２：２战平澳大利亚队，凭借２个净胜球的优势排名Ａ组第二，历史上第二次闯入奥运会女曲比赛四强。

中国队这场比赛堪称小组赛５场中打得最好的一场，女曲姑娘们拼抢积极，执行战术明确，而澳大利亚队上半场基本上被中国队压着打。队员们的努力在第３０分钟收到成效，当时马弋博在前场右侧将球打到射门弧内，李红侠大力射门打入一球，中国队以１：０领先。

下半场中国女曲继续加强攻势。第３８分钟，２８岁的付宝荣前场拿球传给埋伏在射门弧内的李红侠，２１岁的李红侠打入漂亮一球，球飞入澳大利亚队的球门，中国队以２：０领先。落后的澳大利亚队开始死拼中国队，场上火药味十足。第５１分钟，澳大利亚队利用短角球机会攻入一球。１０分钟后，３０号萨拉·扬以一记反手击球洞穿中国队大门，打入扳平一球。

双方打平后，场上的局势一度对中国队不利，澳大利亚队队员急于超出比分，因为平局对她们来说就意味着进不了四强。最后几分钟，在疯狂的拼抢中，中国队高丽华和队长马弋博先后被罚下场，中国队只剩９人在场上应战，艰难地将平局的比分保持到终场。

比赛结束后，澳大利亚队队员抱在一起流泪，５７岁的主教练弗兰克也老泪纵横。他说：“虽然我对结果很失望，但中国队的确很强大。”

中国队主教练金昶伯则笑呵呵地出现在记者面前，他评点说：“下半场队员们打得其实并不好，场上比较混乱，还好我们赢了。”

半决赛中国女曲将对阵Ｂ组第一名德国队，中国队曾在雅典奥运会上被德国队点球击败，获得该届奥运会第四名。