Rio 2016: Great Britain’s women clinch victory over arch rivals Australia to begin Olympic hockey campaign in style
Great Britain’s women enjoyed an ideal start to their Olympic campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over old rivals.
Lily Owsley and Alex Danson struck the vital goals as the side stamped down their marker on Pool B in Rio.
The Team GB side celebrate victory over rivals Australia in their opening Olympic hockey match at Rio 2016
Victory was also a dose of revenge for Danny Kerry’s side after they were thrashed 4-1 by Australia in the Champions Trophy at the end of June.
After an early scare when Crista Cullen was briefly floored by a close-range shot which struck her in the stomach, Britain took the lead on 26 minutes.
A slick team move was eventually finished in style by Owsley, who was a spectator when some of her team-mates won bronze in London four years ago.
Lily Owsley stretches to fire Great Britain into the lead against AustraliaAustralia celebrate after Georgina Morgan had levelled the scores against Team GB
Moments later Georgina Morgan hit the post at the other end as Maddie Hinch was beaten for one of the few times in the contest.
But Morgan made no mistake three minutes into the third quarter from a penalty corner to level the scores.
Alex Danson is mobbed by her teammates after shooting Britain into a 2-1 lead over AustraliaBritain goalkeeper Maddie Hinch proved too hard for Australia to beat as they desperately searched for an equaliser
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But Britain were not to be denied and they reclaimed a deserved lead in the third quarter.
An opportunity looked to have eluded Danson when she appeared to have turned into trouble as she closed in on goal, but the 31-year-old cleverly reversed direction to fire into the net.
Australia piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Hinch was superb as Britain’s last line of defence and they held on to claim all three points.
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