Paris 2024: Hockeyroos maintain perfect record through to Olympic quarterfinal against China

Australia is hoping to overcome the demons of Tokyo’s quarterfinal ‘capitulation’ when the Hockeyroos face China after maintaining their unbeaten streak in Paris.

Trinny Powell’s Hockeyroos have the chance to avenge the horrors of their Tokyo quarter finals implosion after another dramatic late goal set up a quarter final clash against China to cap an unbeaten march through the pool rounds.

Australia needed to win by a margin of two goals in their clash against Spain to leap over pool rival Argentina on goal difference and take on China in their quarter final.

And a team that has thrived when all seems lost this tournament took until the final 90 seconds to score that critical goal.

Striker Kaitlin Nobbs prayed upon a Spanish side which had taken off its goalkeeper seeking a late equaliser to intercept, then score past a defender valiantly trying to protect that unguarded goal.

That 3-1 victory means Australia tops its pool and dodges a potential clash with No.1 ranked Belgium.

Even then there was drama as the official ladder listed Argentina as having topped the pool on goals scored before world hockey’s governing body made clear Australia’s goal difference was the deciding factor.

How far can the Hockeyroos go in Paris? Picture: Getty Images

China is no easy-beat, having risen up the world rankings in recent years and boasting a recent tournament win against Australia in Perth.

And they are coached by dual Australian gold medallist Alyson Annan, with Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth a Chinese assistant coach.

The pair and Powell were all involved in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics wins.

But Powell would have much preferred that clash than a possible contest against Belgium, with China having won only one of their four pool clashes so far.

Powell took charge of the Tokyo Olympics side only two months from that tournament amid a blaze of headlines about a toxic culture as Paul Gadoin was forced aside after an internal review.

Are the scars of Tokyo’s ‘capitulation’ healed? Picture: AFP

And yet while her side marched through the five pool games unbeaten they lost 1-0 in the quarter finals to an Indian side that had won only two pool games.

After that self-confessed “capitulation” the Hockeyroos set about restoring their culture, sought out the mindfulness expertise of world-renowned consultant Emma Murray, and finished third in the 2022 World Cup and second in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Powell also backed in a new wave of young Hockeyroos, with eight brash youngsters making their Paris debuts, with seven of them playing in the pool game against Argentina.

But now Australia is aware that for all those changes, as Powell boldly overlooked high-profile striker Rosie Malone for breakout star Alice Arnott, they need to win a quarter final to validate their years of growth.

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As Powell said of the chance to create new history for a Hockeyroos side which has missed a medal in five consecutive Olympic games: “What has gone on in the past with how successful we have been has no bearing on right now. If you start to think about how we lost that quarter final in Tokyo, you have already lost what we are doing right now.

“It’s about creating our own little bit of history, getting rewards for what this group has done.

“We have seen the younger athletes who have come on board progressing really well. We have built the team culture and the way we play. It’s nice and robust and we have selected players aligned with the way we play.”

The Hockeyroos are unbeaten in Paris? Picture: AFP

The unbeaten Hockeyroos went up within 90 seconds through veteran striker Mariah Williams’ angled pass to set up Alice Arnott’s perfect deflection.

But Spain came out hard in the middle periods of the clash with possession dominance and a handful of sharp chances parried away by Australian goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram.

Finally Australia conceded after in-form defender Penny Squibb, so strong in this tournament, gave away a goalmouth penalty stroke that led to Lola Riera’s goal past Bartram.

Then as the seconds ticked down, Steph Kershaw scored another brilliant deflection goal to give Australia a chance.

With Spain in desperation mode they took off their goalkeeper for another field player and Nobbs pounced off an interception deep in attack to score the crucial third goal into an empty net.

Originally published as Paris 2024: Hockeyroos maintain perfect record through to Olympic quarterfinal against China