Spain book semi berth
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ByEurosport
Published 04/10/2006 at 15:31 GMT
Spain booked the final place in the semi-finals of the women's World Cup in Madrid as they withstood a late England fightback to earn a 1-1 draw and the point they required for a last four berth.
FIELD HOCKEY 2006 World Cup Women Spain Monserrat Cruz
Image credit: Reuters
Montserrat Cruz gave the hosts the lead in the tenth minute as she rounded keeper Katy Roberts and found the goal from an acute angle, beating Mel Clewlow on the line.
Danny Kerry's side pushed for an equaliser and Helen Grant missed a great chance with 15 minutes to go when she failed to make contact in front of goal.
England did level proceedings with six minutes remaining when Clewlow's short corner went in, via Maria Jesus Rosa's left pad.
But the Spanish, ranked tenth in the world, held on to book their first ever semi-final berth in the World Cup.
They will meet Australia in the last four after they secured top spot in Pool B with a 3-0 victory over Argentina.
Wendy Beattie scored twice in the first-half, thrashing home a net buster from 10m early on before getting a far post deflection to Angie Skirving's short corner.
Sarah Taylor completed the scoring, smashing home a rebound after Mariela Antoniska could only parry Hope Munro's reverse stick shot.
Earlier, the Netherlands claimed first place in Group A, after a goalless draw against already eliminated Olympic champions Germany, and will now meet the South Americans on Friday.
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