Commonwealth Games Semifinal England 0 New Zealand 0. (England win 2 in shootout) England kept their hopes alive for a maiden Commonwealth Games Gold Medal. England beat New Zealand 2-0 after a goalless draw at University of Birmingham. This earned them a spot in Sunday’s final against Australia at 3:00 PM BST. Australia won the second semi-final against India by winning a shootout. This was after a normal time 1-1 draw.

BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 23 England v New Zealand (Semi-final 1) England win after shoot outs Picture: Maddie Hinch (GK) COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS ADY KERRY BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 England v New Zealand (Semi-final 1) Picture: Shoot Outs Maddie Hinch (GK) Hope Ralph COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS FRANK UIJLENBROEK BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 England v New Zealand (Semi-final 1) Picture: Shoot Outs Maddie Hinch (GK) Hope Ralph COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS FRANK UIJLENBROEK Once again, England goalkeeper Maddie Hinch proved that she had done her homework, saving all four New Zealand attempts, while there was a mini Surbiton reunion as Izzy Petter and Hannah Martin, both returning to the Sugden Road club for the 2022-23 season found a way to outwit former Surbiton goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon and end the Black Sticks reign as Commonwealth Games champions33.

England won two consecutive penalty corners. Giselle Ansley’s first shot was deflected out of goal. The ball was then dragged past the right post.

New Zealand responded quickly with two penalty corners in the fourth minute. Megan Hull was denied a shot from the first, and Hinch saved twice from the second.

After that, the penalty corner count eased and both teams made chances out of open-play. Holly Hunt was unlucky not put England ahead in sixth minute. A strike hit the post, but Hinch was busy with Olivia Merry, Katie Doar, and Katie Doar who had scored twice in England’s 3-1 win at the World Cup a month prior.

Rose Tynan was lost in New Zealand seven minutes after she fell to the ground. She was issued a ten minute suspension and a yellow card. England was unable to capitalize and Sophie Hamilton was sent straight to the sinbin after she saw green in the tenth.

Shortly after Tynan’s suspension ended in the 17th minute, it was England’s turn to have a single player disadvantage with Giselle Ansley sitting on the naughty step after a quick game of musical chairs with Shona McCallin.

The second quarter was largely uneventful although Laura Unsworth’s long pass was deflected past the right post by Tess Howard just before half time.

The third quarter saw two yellow card suspensions within seconds of the start and end of the quarter with Unsworth banished after just 14 seconds of the second half for knocking the ball away and Hope Ralph sent to the sideline with just 7.5 seconds remaining after the umpires lost patience with the Black Sticks’ tactics.

In between, the penalty corner count resumed with Olivia Merry’s shot bravely blocked by Fiona Crackles and Hinch saving from Stephanie Dickins as New Zealand tried to find the breakthrough.

At the other end, Ansley was thwarted again after her shot was deemed to be dangerous and O’Hanlon saved from Flora Peel before Hinch again thwarted Hull from New Zealand’s fifth and last penalty corner.

In the fourth quarter, England forced four penalty corners but couldn’t find a way through the New Zealand defence, Anna Crowley’s upright stick coming to the Black Sticks’ rescue in a pressurised sixth penalty corner which saw Ansley, Lily Owsley and Hollie Pearne-Webb all have shots on goal.

New Zealand were clearly unhappy when they lost their right to a video referral in the 49th minute after claiming there was no foot, but O’Hanlon saved Anna Toman’s shot to keep the game scoreless. Hamilton gave McCallin an opportunity to send the ball past McCallin with eight minutes remaining. Martin’s late shot was blocked and the game was decided by a shootout.

New Zealand had ended England’s hopes of reaching the final in a shootout after a goalless draw on the Gold Coast in 2018 and England avenged that loss after both Hinch and O’Hanlon dominated the first efforts.

The Black Sticks were first, with Ralph going around Hinch and getting the angle wrong to reach the left post. Tess Howard ran out of time after having a shot blocked by O’Hanlon.

Hinch saved from Tynan to keep the shootout score goalless but Lily Owsley was also denied by O’Hanlon as the goalkeepers were on top. Katie Doar ran out of time from New Zealand’s third attempt after yet another Hinch save, but Petter stepped up and found the backboard to put England ahead.

With Hinch also saving from Olivia Shannon’s fourth attempt, Martin was on course to book England’s place in the final and she made no mistake although her shot was probably not her most powerful, but the ball slipped just inside the left post to make the other England players run towards the goal and celebrate a guaranteed medal.

England will be making their fourth appearance at a Gold Medal match. They have previously lost 8-1 to Australia 1998, 3-2 to India in extra time 2002 and 3-1 in Australia in a shootout. This will allow them to keep their record of winning a Commonwealth Games medal.

England: Starters: Maddie Hinch (GK); Laura Unsworth, Anna Toman, Hannah Martin, Ellie Rayer, Izzy Petter, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Pearne-Webb (Capt.), Fiona Crackles, Lily Owsley, Flora Peel.

Subs: Holly Hunt (3 mins), Tess Howard(3), Lily Walker(5), Sophie Hamilton(5), Shona McAllin(5), Grace Balsdon(6)

Sub not used Sabbie Heesh, (GK).

Cards: Green: Sophie Hamilton (7 mins), Giselle Ansley (18 mins). Yellow: Laura Unsworth (31 minutes)

New Zealand: Starters: Tarryn Davey, Olivia Shannon, Olivia Merry, Frances Davies, Hope Ralph, Aniwaka Haumaha, Grace O’Hanlon (GK), Stephanie Dickins, Tessa Jopp, Megan Hull (Capt.), Katie Doar.

Subs: Kaitlin Cotter (3), Tyler Lench (2004), Anna Crowley ((5)), Alex Lukin (2006), Alia Jques (6) and Rose Tynan (6.

Brooke Roberts (GK) Sub not Used

Cards: Yellow: Rose Tynan (7 mins) – 10 mins suspension; Hope Ralph (45 mins) – 5 mins suspension.

Aleisha Neumann (Australia), and Wanri Venturer (South Africa).

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