Olympics | Paris 2024 Hockey Womens Pool Standings
Paris, France: The Netherlands women produced a stunning fightback to deny Germany on another exciting day of Paris 2024 Olympic hockey action at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
Hockey at Paris 2024: Netherlands women battle back to defeat Germany
There were also significant results for the women’s teams of Belgium, Argentina and Australia, while Australia men made it two wins from two in their own quest for gold.
Women’s Pool A
Belgium (6pts) finished Day 3 at the top of the standings thanks to a marginally superior goal difference over the Netherlands (6pts), with China and Germany (both 3pts) occupiying the third and fourth places respectively.
China bounced back from their opening day loss to Belgium with statement 5-0 win against Asian rivals China, with Zhong Jiaqi, Li Hong, Ma Ning and a double from Gu Bingfeng doing the damage. “There’s a bit of rivalry between Japan and China”, said China head coach Alyson Annan, herself a double Olympic gold medallist with Australia’s Hockeyroos. There's always that pressure of winning these games, even just for China. But we were dominant.”
Reigning Olympic gold medallists the Netherlands came from a goal down to beat Germany, with Yibbi Jansen and Marijn Veen securing a 2-1 win to thrill the masses of Dutch fans at Yves-du-Manoir. “Germany played a good game and we found it hard to get through”, said Oranje ace Frederique Matla. “After we conceded we started to play with bravery and played our best in the fourth quarter to get the goals we needed.”
Belgium secured a big win over hosts France, with Ambre Ballenghien scoring twice in 5-0 score-line to put the Red Panthers at the top of Pool A on goal difference. Speaking after the match, Charlotte Englebert said: “We are happy to have won two games here at the Olympics, but we are quite self-critical and see things that we want to improve.”
Women’s Pool B
Argentina (6pts) and Australia (6pts) maintained their 100% start to the competition to finish Day 3 joint top of the standings, separated only by goal difference. Spain (4pts) and USA (1pt) currently occupy the third and fourth places, with South Africa (0pts) and Great Britain (0pts) currently sitting fifth and sixth, outside the quarter final qualification spots in fifth and sixth.
Australia exhibited their title credentials by dismantling Rio 2016 gold medallists Great Britain, with Rebecca Greiner, Alice Arnott, Tatum Stewart and Grace Stewart all contributing to a crushing 4-0 scoreline. “That was a big focus for us coming into this game, to start strong”, said Hockeyroo Tatum Stewart. “I think we did that, set the tone of the game early, and we were able to come away with a big win."
Agustina Gorzelany netted two blistering fourth quarter penalty corners to help Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Argentina turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory, a result which put Las Leonas top of the standings on goal difference. "This is crazy”, said Gorzelany about scoring for a second successive Olympic match. “For us, it means a lot to be here. It's pure love for this shirt and the country. I'm very happy."
Earlier, Spain and USA played out an entertaining draw, with the result seeing them end Day 3 sitting third and fourth in Pool B respectively.
