Cronk saves penalty as Aussies down United States

Australia moved back into contention for a semi-final place in the Olympic Games women's hockey tournament with a hard fought 1-0 win over United States on Thursday. Australia scored four minutes after their goalkeeper had saved a USA penalty stroke. Australia's second win, after their first day defeat by New Zealand, takes them at least temporarily up to second place in Group B behind New Zealand on goal difference. The US have now lost their three games by the odd goal. Twenty year old Anna Flanagan scored Australia's goal shortly before half-time with a strong flick at a penalty corner. Lauren Crandall, the experienced US captain, took her team's 29th-minute penalty but Australian goalkeeper Toni Cronk pulled off a fine save. Adam Commens, the Australian coach, praised Cronk not only for her penalty save but "a number of outstanding saves today". South Korea won the early morning game against Japan 1-0 to get off the bottom of the Group A table. They did not concede a single penalty corner and allowed Japan little sight of their goal. South Korea's goal was a corner conversion by Cheong Seul-Ki in the 42nd minute. "Cheong scored in the upper left corner. She shot high because the Japanese goalkeeper is quite short," explained South Korea captain Lee Seon-Ok.