England ladies took on Germany in the second semi-final of the day but lost in the cruelest of ways, a golden goal in extra time after the game finished at 1-1 in 70 minutes.
England survived an early scare when Germany earned a penalty corner after 11 minutes but the ball was cleared and three minutes later earned the first of four first half corners. Alex Danson just failed to get on the end of Kate Walsh's shot which went inches wide.
England continued to press and had a chance when Jo Ellis pushed forward into the circle, but the biggest shout of the game came when she then did an unfortunate airshot. Germany earned two green cards in this period, such was the English pressure, but they failed to get into the circle from their 25 yard superiority.
With ten minutes to go the Germans had a foray into the English circle which brought about the first save of the game from Becky Duggan. However two minutes later and a mistake in defence let the Germans in and Duggan's kick went straight to Natascha Keller who doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth! 1-0 to the Germans.
Five minutes from time the Germans won another corner but when they fluffed it England strode forward once more and won three corners in quick succession. The final one had the shot taken by Chloe Rogers for Jo Ellis to put in the back of the net. 1-1 at half time.
All to play for in the second half and both sides came out cautiously, starting much like the first. England earned their first penalty corner after 14 minutes. One more quickly after but they failed to convert them. Germany started to press forward but the defence stood firm, clearing the ball again when the Germans won another corner.
England pressed forward and when Sally Walton found herself at the top of the German circle she nearly made it 2-1. Further pressure and a gasp from the crowd as Becky Herbert turned and skinned the Germans in the middle of the pitch and Jo Ellis hit high over the bar.
With less than three minutes remaining the Germans found themselves free at the top of the circle but Duggan made a good save to keep them out. Less than a minute to go to full time and England found themselves in the German circle but couldn't make the pressure pay. In the last seconds of the game Natalie Seymour couldn't deal with an overhead lift and Duggan was forced to make another save, this time with her chest. But the ball was not cleared and Maike Stockel nearly won it for Germany but her shot went wide.
1-1 at full time and extra time in play. Seven and a half minutes each way. The Germans came out hard and fast at the beginning of extra time and were immediately in England's circle. England soaked up the pressure but after six minutes it was the Germans who broke once more and Stockel struck the ball past Duggan who had no chance. 2-1 and a win for the Germans.
In the first semi-final of the day, The N|etherlands easily overcame Spain to win by
5-1 and take their expected place in the final on Saturday. England will therefore play Spain in the third / fourth play off.
