Australia win women's hockey gold

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Australia successfully defended their Commonwealth Games crown, defeating a spirited New Zealand 4-2 via the tie-breaker in the final of the women's hockey event at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium on Wednesday.

Contrary to the result, the Kiwi girls showed great fighting spirit and came back twice from a goal down to deny title holders Australia victory in regulation time.

However, in the shoot-out, Australia converted four out of their five strokes, while the Kiwis could score only from two.

Australia converted their first two strokes, through Ashleigh Nelson and Megan Rivers, while Katie Glynn and Krystal Forgesson failed for the Kiwis.

The teams were locked 2-2 at the end of full-time, and even extra-time failed to break the deadlock.

Nicole Jessica Arrold (9th minute) and Nelson (59th) scored for Australia while New Zealand levelled the scores twice through Samantha Harrison (48th) and Clarissa Eshuis (70th).

New Zealand had to settle for the silver while England claimed the bronze, defeating South Africa 1-0 through a Georgia Twigg goal in the third-place play-off match earlier in the day.