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| Chinese goalkeeper
Nie Yali (C) eyes the ball during a melee inside the
circle during the Pool A match between China (blue) and Spain (red).
(Agencies) |
China outclassed Spain 3-0 to become the
first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Olympic women's
field hockey
competition.
Tang Chunling put the Chinese ahead in the 14th minute and Fu Baorong
pumped in a second goal just before half-time.
Spain defended stoutly in
the second-half but could not prevent Gao Lihua adding to the tally 12
minutes before the final whistle.
It will be the first Olympic semi-final appearance for the Chinese,
virtually unknown in women's hockey till the 1990s.
They finished fifth at the Sydney Games four years ago, but then took a
huge leap by winning the 2002 Champions Trophy.
China, who play world champions Argentina in the last group A match on
Sunday to decide the league winners, are the only team in the 10-nation
event yet to concede a goal.
They defeated Asian rivals Japan 3-0 and New Zealand 2-0 in the
previous matches.
Spain, who won the gold at home in Barcelona in 1992, are out of
contention for the semi-finals
with their second consecutive defeat. They lost to Argentina 0-4 in the
first game.
Chinese coach Hai Xian was already looking ahead at Sunday's match
against Argentina.
"It will be nice to top the group going into the semi-finals," he said.
"We have achieved our first target, now the real battle
starts."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-08-18 16:40