Great Britain’s hopes of defending their gold medal in women’s hockey are over after the Netherlands gained revenge for the 2016 Olympic final with a 5-1 win in the semi-final here.
They will now play for bronze, which would still be a third medal at consecutive Olympics, against either Argentina or India, who they beat 4-1 in the pool stage.
Great Britain and the Netherlands had played out a close match in the pool stage, won 1-0 by the Dutch, but with a place in the final at stake, the defending champions were outclassed in stifling 33C heat.
“I think there wasn’t enough sustained pressure [from us],” Great Britain forward Hannah Martin said.
“We knew if we could keep getting at them then they would go in, but we just didn’t quite do that today. I’m bitterly disappointed but we’ll come out fighting for that bronze medal. No excuses today. They’re a very strong team, but we’re disappointed to not get a result.”
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Great Britain forced two penalty corners and just one shot from open play, whereas the Netherlands, ranked No 1 in the world, had eight penalty corners and five attempts from the field.
After a goalless first quarter, the match pivoted on a 60-second period early in the second in which the Netherlands scored twice.
First, Great Britain were completely undone as the Dutch created a two-on-one situation on the left of the D. Laurien Leurink beat Giselle Ansley with a lovely bit of stick skill, before finding Felice Albers, who drove the shot between Maddie Hinch’s legs.
Seconds later, a brilliant lofted pass caught the Great Britain defence in disarray, and the ball was centred to Marloes Keetels at the top of the D, who smashed it low and hard into the corner.
Great Britain never really recovered, and the Netherlands scored twice more in the third quarter to effectively end the contest.
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Maria Verschoor touched Caia van Maasakker’s drag flick past Hinch as the Dutch successfully converted a penalty corner.
Then Great Britain were caught out by a driven cross from tight to the back line. Felice Albers snuck ahead of Grace Balsdon and deflected the ball past Hinch.
Giselle Ansley pulled one back from a penalty corner, before Frédérique Matla completed a superb Dutch performance.
