Rio Olympics 2016: Britain make history with first ever gold in women’s hockey after hero keeper Maddie Hinch seals shootout glory against favourites Holland
BRITISH hockey’s years of hurt are over after the women’s team took gold in dramatic style.
Danny Kerry’s side were the first female Brits to reach an Olympic final — and matched the 1988 men’s team of Sean Kerly and Co in a thriller.
The Brits won 2-0 on penalty shuffles thanks to the heroics of keeper Maddie Hinch after twice coming from behind to force a 3-3 draw.
The first four one-on-ones between attacker and the goalkeepers all went in favour of the defending team.
But on Britain’s third attempt, Dutch keeper Joyce Sombroek fouled Sophie Bray and Helen Richardson-Walsh scored the penalty flick.
GB keeper Hinch kept out the third effort for the Netherlands, but Sombroek denied Laura Unsworth.
Hinch then diverted Margot Van Geffen’s effort onto the post and Hollie Webb scored to seal an incredible victory.
It had been a seesaw of a final which must have thrilled fans back home and attracted plenty of new ones. The first period had scares for Britain but ended with them a goal up.
In the sixth minute, Hinch saved a penalty flick by Maartje Paumen and soon afterwards Lily Owsley gave Team GB the lead.
Sophie Bray’s fantastic, direct run ended with a shot which Sombroek parried and Owsley followed up to score.
But all Britain’s good work was undone within a minute of the restart as Kitty Van Male finished superbly.
Much of the second period was a struggle for the Brits and another Holland goal looked inevitable.
Hinch made a fine double save from a penalty corner, Naomi Van As hit the post and Xan De Waard put a shot just wide.
Then from another penalty corner, Paumen put the Netherlands ahead.
But gutsy Team GB hit back within 42 SECONDS as Crista Cullen fired home to make it 2-2.
Holland were on top for much of the third period and Van Male put them back ahead from a penalty corner.
But with eight-and-a-half minutes to go, the Brits took advantage of Holland being down to 10 players following Laurien Leurink’s sinbinning.
After a penalty corner and a scramble, Nicola White forced the ball home to level before their penalty heroics.