Australia will play the Netherlands in Sunday's final of the Investec London Cup, which both teams reached by an unconventional route.
The Netherlands reached the final by winning the penalty shoot out which was by far the most exciting part of a dull and poorly played 2-2 draw. "We weren't at the races in the first half" said Fabian Gregory, South Africa's assistant coach. Their defence was certainly missing in the third minute allowing Kelly Jonker to collect the ball and shoot unhindered to open the scoring. Seven minutes later Maartje Paumen converted her side's only penalty corner with her usual panache.
The Dutch became complacent and the match degenerated. South Africa came back into the game and Pietie Coetzee eluded three tackles to score just before the interval. In the second half Kitty van Male hit the crossbar for the Dutch but Coetzee scored a second from South Africa's second and final penalty corner to set up the shoot out.
Australia reached the final with the comeback of the tournament. Trailing 2-0 with 18 minutes left, they scored three times including the winner from the second penalty corner in overtime.
Germany had started impressively with Maike Stockel putting them ahead in the fifth minute with a well struck reverse stick shot. A broken down penalty corner gave Eileen Hoffman the opportunity to put them further ahead in the 13th minute of the second half.
Emily Smith started the Australian revival and when Kobie McGurk blasted the ball from the edge of the circle between Kristina Reynolds legs with five minutes left for 2-2 a penalty shoot out loomed. It was not to be. Australia's fifth penalty corner and the second in overtime was rolled towards goal and chipped in by Anna Flanagan.
