<p>Titleholders Germany beat world champions Australia 4-2 on Thursday to reach the men's Olympic hockey final with both teams giving their all in a high quality semifinal.</p>.<p><br />In a first half played at blistering pace, Australia went ahead after German ’keeper Max Weinhold failed to control a shot from Glenn Turner and Kieran Govers fired the volley rebound through his legs. <br /><br />Germany levelled minutes later with a low penalty corner flick by Moritz Fuerste and the 1-1 scoreline at halftime was a fair reflection of the action. <br /><br />Germany looked more dangerous at the start of the second half but it was Australia's Turner who put his team back in the lead, sneaking the ball over Weinhold who had gone to ground to save two previous attempts. <br /><br />Germany had a goal disallowed 12 minutes into the second half when Oliver Deecke volleyed an aerial pass over the Australian ’keeper, the umpire deciding after a video referral that Deecke had raised his stick above shoulder height. <br /><br />Germany bounced back from the disappointment and levelled when Matthias Witthaus, completely unmarked in the D, converted a cross from Tobias Hauke. <br /><br />They went ahead for the first time through a penalty corner flick by Timo Wess with just 11 minutes to go. <br /><br />Australia, needing to score, pushed forward, giving Germany space to net another goal on a quick counter-attack with seven minutes to go. <br /><br />Benjamin Wess sprinted for a long pass down the left touchline, slammed the ball across the circle and Florian Fuchs dived in to deflect it over the line. <br /><br />Argentina through<br /><br />World champions Argentina beat Britain's women hockey team 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a gold medal final against reigning champions the Netherlands, who squeezed past New Zealand in a thrilling penalty shootout. <br /><br />Argentina dominated hosts Britain throughout much of the semifinal, in which Las Leonas treated the 16,000 strong crowd to a display of magnificent stick and passing skills, while Britain often struggled to string their passes together. Just five minutes into the game, Argentina's Noel Barrionuevo flicked a penalty corner through British defender Crista Cullen's legs for the 1-0 lead. <br /><br />With three minutes to go before half-time, Aymar, having won a ball back from four British players ran down the left touchline, passed to Carla Rebecchi, who took it down the baseline and, falling over the British goalkeeper's legs, pushed the ball into the goal for the halftime 2-0 lead. <br /><br />Britain's players surrounded the umpire claiming there had been an obstruction in the lead-up to the goal but there was no change of decision. The Dutch were lucky to advance to the final, needing a penalty shootout against New Zealand, who held the Beijing champions to a 2-2 draw after extra time. </p>
<p>Titleholders Germany beat world champions Australia 4-2 on Thursday to reach the men's Olympic hockey final with both teams giving their all in a high quality semifinal.</p>.<p><br />In a first half played at blistering pace, Australia went ahead after German ’keeper Max Weinhold failed to control a shot from Glenn Turner and Kieran Govers fired the volley rebound through his legs. <br /><br />Germany levelled minutes later with a low penalty corner flick by Moritz Fuerste and the 1-1 scoreline at halftime was a fair reflection of the action. <br /><br />Germany looked more dangerous at the start of the second half but it was Australia's Turner who put his team back in the lead, sneaking the ball over Weinhold who had gone to ground to save two previous attempts. <br /><br />Germany had a goal disallowed 12 minutes into the second half when Oliver Deecke volleyed an aerial pass over the Australian ’keeper, the umpire deciding after a video referral that Deecke had raised his stick above shoulder height. <br /><br />Germany bounced back from the disappointment and levelled when Matthias Witthaus, completely unmarked in the D, converted a cross from Tobias Hauke. <br /><br />They went ahead for the first time through a penalty corner flick by Timo Wess with just 11 minutes to go. <br /><br />Australia, needing to score, pushed forward, giving Germany space to net another goal on a quick counter-attack with seven minutes to go. <br /><br />Benjamin Wess sprinted for a long pass down the left touchline, slammed the ball across the circle and Florian Fuchs dived in to deflect it over the line. <br /><br />Argentina through<br /><br />World champions Argentina beat Britain's women hockey team 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a gold medal final against reigning champions the Netherlands, who squeezed past New Zealand in a thrilling penalty shootout. <br /><br />Argentina dominated hosts Britain throughout much of the semifinal, in which Las Leonas treated the 16,000 strong crowd to a display of magnificent stick and passing skills, while Britain often struggled to string their passes together. Just five minutes into the game, Argentina's Noel Barrionuevo flicked a penalty corner through British defender Crista Cullen's legs for the 1-0 lead. <br /><br />With three minutes to go before half-time, Aymar, having won a ball back from four British players ran down the left touchline, passed to Carla Rebecchi, who took it down the baseline and, falling over the British goalkeeper's legs, pushed the ball into the goal for the halftime 2-0 lead. <br /><br />Britain's players surrounded the umpire claiming there had been an obstruction in the lead-up to the goal but there was no change of decision. The Dutch were lucky to advance to the final, needing a penalty shootout against New Zealand, who held the Beijing champions to a 2-2 draw after extra time. </p>