Germany beat Australia, meet Argentina in last four

ROSARIO: Germany beat Australia 1-0 in Pool A on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the women’s hockey World Cup where they will meet hosts Argentina.

Favourites Netherlands, the reigning world and Olympic champions, face England in the other semifinal after making sure of first place in the pool with a 5-2 victory over Japan that gave them a 25-8 goals record in five matches.

The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday. Germany defender Tina Bachman scored the only goal from a 43rd-minute penalty corner in a tight final Pool A match.

The Australians qualified for the fifth-place decider against South Korea.

Maartje Paumen took her goals tally to 10 when she flicked in two penalty corners as the Dutch ran up a 5-0 lead before relaxing and allowing Japan’s Kaori Chiba to score twice in two minutes in reply.

New Zealand scored three goals in 10 minutes, two by captain Kayla Sharland, midway through the second half to beat India 3-0 and avoid finishing bottom of the pool.