Cool Peris slots home Cup shootout winner
AN ice cool Hockeyroos outfit has won through to the World Cup semi-finals after a sudden-death shootout against Argentina.
The quarter-final headed to penalties after finishing as a scoreless draw in regular time in London early yesterday.
Australian forward Brooke Peris stepped up to slot the winning goal past goalkeeper Belen Succi to down the third-ranked Argentines 4-3 in suddendeath.
“I just focused on what I needed to do,” Peris said. “She’s a very good goalkeeper. I had a plan in mind and I just did what I wanted to do.
“It does come down to one-on-ones sometimes and you’ve got to get the job done.”
In a tight match with only three penalty corners, Argentina had the better of the chances — including a goal disallowed for being too high — and edged to an early lead in the shootout.
Experienced Hockeyroos shot-stopper Rachael Lynch denied Magdalena Fernandez at 3-3 to force sudden death.
Lynch was left to sweat for several minutes on a video referral after she appeared to stick check Delfina Merino before saving the resulting re-take, setting the scene for the winner.
“It was a bit longer than normal with all the refer- rals,” she told host broadcaster BT Sport.
“But I have a lot of belief in these girls and that’s why I can do my job because I know we’re going to score a few and I trust them.”
Outsider Spain upset the sixth-ranked Germans 1-0 in the earlier quarter-final on a 54th-minute goal from Carmen Cano.
Australia will face either first-ranked Netherlands or second-ranked England for a place in the final tomorrow at 11pm.