The Ireland women’s hockey team went down 1-0 to Australia in their World Cup qualifier semi-final but will have another chance at qualifying in the bronze medal match against either Chile or Japan on Sunday (9pm Irish time).
A penalty stroke was all that separated the sides in a physical encounter in Santiago.
The Irish and the Aussies contested the opening five minutes in the centre of the field in Santiago. A rare attack for Australia ended in the first penalty corner of the game, but Elizabeth Murphy and Hannah McLoughlin combined in their defensive duties from the set piece to clear the lines.
Ireland responded well, going up the other end through Katie Mullan who struck from a narrow angle, but her effort was cleared. Australia were then awarded a penalty stroke, but Elizabeth Murphy was equal to the task to keep Ireland level, saving yet another penalty stroke.
Australia maintained the momentum through the first quarter, forcing Murphy into a series of saves, but Ireland held out and ended the opening quarter on level terms.
Some miscued passes put pressure on the Irish early in the half, with a penalty corner calling for some defensive duties once again to keep Australia out. A third penalty corner for the Hockeyroos came soon after, but Murphy was again equal to the task to clear. But ill-discipline from Ireland resulted in a fourth penalty corner which this time was miscued.
The girls in green enjoyed more possession early in the second half, but Australia sat deep and denied routes into the circle with a deep defensive line. Niamh Carey did superbly in the press to win her side the the ball high up the pitch and drive into the circle, playing a ball across the circle to twin sister Michelle, but her deflection was covered by goalkeeper Aleisha Power.
Ireland began the final quarter with a yellow card for Michelle Carey, making the task ahead of finding an equaliser that little bit harder, though they continued to be positive in their play as RoisÃn Upton found Christina Hamill free in the circle, but her effort at goal went wide at the near post.
Another chance came Ireland’s way as Mullan crashed a ball across the circle, but the slightest of touches from Power in net took it away from Michelle Carey who waited on the back post.
Ireland withdrew Elizabeth Murphy with five minutes remaining as they looked to throw everything they had left at Australia. Australia, though, had a chance to break and looked destined to score, but Caoimhe Perdue produced a sensational last gasp save to deny them.
A penalty corner for Ireland with ninety seconds remaining gave Ireland a last lifeline to draw level. Australia denied them and ran out the clock.