The Hockeyroos’ bid for a first women’s hockey medal in 24 years has ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to China in the quarter-finals.

Australia won back-to-back gold medals in 1996 and Sydney 2000, but have finished fifth or six at every Olympic Games since then.

This time around, world number four Australia fought gutsily but couldn’t find a late equaliser despite a dominant second half that included FOUR consecutive penalty corners in the fourth quarter.

Australia had qualified top in their group but struggled for possession and control in the first half against the world number eight team, and were not clinical enough in the second half when the chances finally came. Australia finished with nine penalty corners in total.

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In the end, the Australians were left in tears of despair as China’s stars streamed tears of joy.

Five minutes into the first quarter, Australia went up a player after a deliberate infringement resulted in a green card (a two-minute sin bin). But Australia couldn’t convert their advantage into a goal.

But after some exceptional attacking work, defender Claire Colwill drew a short corner when her shot from the top of the arc was blocked by a foot. Colwill’s shot from the corner was blocked but Olympic debutant Alice Arnott followed up from close range with her fourth goal of the tournament.

China drew a short corner soon afterwards and lashed it into inside of the side netting in style through Ma Ning.

China took a 2-1 lead in the second quarter from close range through midfielder Dan Wen, as Australia struggled to get the attack to click. China then won back-to-back penalty corners, but they were brilliantly defended by the Hockeyroos. And with just a couple of minutes before halftime, Australia almost hit back against the run of play when a long-range shot bobbled into the post.

But China deserved their lead at the break with more possession and control.

Australia attempted to fight back in the third but Stephanie Kershaw’s shot went narrowly wide.

Then China took a 3-1 lead in controversial fashion. An Australia save from a penalty corner fell to Zhong Jiaqi who buried her shot – but the goal was reviewed by the umpire after Australia claimed it was deflected to Jiaqi off Zou Meirong’s arm. The video reviews were unable to decisively show either way, so the goal stood.

Speaking after the game retiring skipper Jane Claxton unloaded on officials.

“Those types of small things start to add up, make a big difference,” she said.

“It’s interesting what you see on the big screen compared to what you seen on a computer screen.

“That’s so controllable … images on a screen you can slow down and see on any angle … it’s strange, completely strange but it’s the nature of the beast.

It’s in the rule books, pretty black and white … it’s worrying.”

Former Kookaburra Grant Schubert was also stunned.

“If we can slow this down and see the connection to the legs, why can’t the umpire?”, he posted.

“That’s going to be hard to take for the girls. Shocked.”

Former Hockeyroo Georgie Parker also took aim at the call. “I don’t know how they could not see that hit the body,” she said on Nine’s coverage

Australia desperately tried to fight back as the third quarter wound down, and their pressure began to tell on China as the sides traded penalty corners. Claire Colwill had one saved, before Australia staved off one of their own. Penny Squibb’s attempt from another short corner in the final minute of the quarter was blocked, but Australia immediately called for a video referral – and it was upheld, handing Australia another penalty corner with 16 seconds left in the quarter. This time, Tatum Stewart’s shot was deflected into the net from a pair of Chinese players, with Australia just one goal down as the final term began.

In the fourth minute of the fourth quarter, Australia won FOUR consecutive penalty corners after the first three attempts were illegally blocked by the bodies of Chinese defenders. Australia appeared to win a fifth in a row when a follow-up shot from a penalty corner was once again blocked, but China called for a video referral which found the ball had struck her dangerously high – meaning China was given the ball.

Australia successfully defended a penalty corner of their own then won another at the other end, but once again just couldn’t convert.

Australia was dominating the quarter though, having far more possession as China sought to defend their lead and hit on the counter.

China’s goalkeeper Jiao Ye made a stunning save to deny Stephanie Kershaw with five minutes to play, with the Australians putting the defence under siege with constant attacking forays.

But Australia bizarrely opted not to substitute their keeper for an outfielder in the final minutes and couldn’t fashion one last chance.

The loss prompted tears from former Hockeyroo Georgie Parker.

“I’m really sad about this,” Parker said on Nine.
“This is a side that really could have won this one.“You can just see the hurt on this Australian side’s faces.”

“That’s two quarter finals (losses) in a row, where they finished top of the ladder. Two quarter finals in a row that they have lost,” Parker said.

“It’s brutal. Quarter finals are so, so brutal.

“Maybe they used all of their chips within the pool matches, where they pulled some wins out. Maybe they shouldn’t have.”