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Coach Frank Murray gives Nikki Hudson a
hug after the draw sees Australia drop out
of the competition. Pic: Adam Head |
HOCKEYROOS co-captain Nikki Hudson wiped away her tears this morning, saying it feels like their Olympic loss to China was a bad dream.
The three-time Olympic champions are out of the Beijing Games with world No.5 China qualifying ahead of the Hockeyroos for tomorrow night's semi-finals.
"I'm sure they're (the rest of the team) feeling as I am and that's almost like we wish it was a bad dream," she told TV reporters this morning.
"But unfortunately it's not."
"We couldn't have asked to have done more and unfortunately it didn't go to plan in the end.
"It's just devastation because you spend four years trying to do as much as you possibly can to win an event and for us it's the end of another era."
It was a must-win match against China for the rebuilding Australian women - never an easy task against the hosts backed by a rabid home crowd.
Hudson said that while the Aussie contingent of the crowd did their best to over-power the feisty Chinese fans, the home crowd had the advantage.
"Our Australian crowd tried desperately to match them and I think the Chinese let them go for a little while and then sort of went, 'Hey, it's our turn now'," she said.
"I've never heard Chinese be so vocal, it was amazing."
Hudson said dealing with the loss was made easier when you are a member of team.
"It's definitely easier to deal with it as a team because you've got such a great support base and last night we all rallied around each other and it was great," she said.
"We only lost one game in the round, to lose one game and to be playing off for fifth and sixth is quite disappointing ... we have to move on.
"You just have these great expectations and you can't settle for something less than that."
Hudson, who is one of the older members of the Hockeyroos at 32, said she tried to console some of her younger teammates.
"The disappointment on these guys faces last night, it just broke our hearts," she said.
"Some of the younger ones were so distraught last night, I patted them on the back and I said: 'You guys are going to be around for such along time and if you'll allow me I'd love to be the old girl that joins you'."
"They're just going to be a great bunch of girls and I think they're going to go a long way."
In the match, Australia came back from three goals down to tie seven minutes from time but could not find the match winner and now can finish no higher than fifth.
They finished level on the table with China with three wins, a loss and a draw but were eliminated because China had a better goal differential.
The final minutes of the match were played amid incredible tension.
With the local crowd in a frenzy, China had two players sent off as they disputed a series of calls, and match officials also took objection to a ball boy deliberately slowing down play by refusing to return a ball to the playing field.
Australia launched wave after attacking wave and got one penalty corner with four minutes remaining, and another two minutes from time which the Chinese loudly objected to.
The Australians were shattered at full-time and most shed tears and they crouched on the ground and formed a huddle around coach Frank Murray.
"It's disappointing but we can't deny China their right to be in the final,'' Murray said.
"We had a couple of golden opportunities in the first half and didn't convert them. You can't miss those sorts of chances. But I am very proud of them.
"This is my fourth Olympics and I am as proud of this team as I am of any of them. It's heartbreaking that it came down to goal differences. We got through with one loss which was a tight loss as well.''
Captain Nikki Hudson confirmed that she would play on in an attempt to get to the London Games in four years "because you wouldn't want to finish like this.''
China dominated the first half to lead 1-0 at the break in front of a raucous home crowd who lapped up their success.
First-half goal scorer Li Xionga effectively sealed Australia's fate when she scored again four minutes after the break, after lurking in the circle and converting a cross for a 2-0 lead, meaning Australia needed at least three goals to advance.
Australia had their chances.
Megan Rivers only had the keeper to beat early in the first half but struck the ball into her. And seconds before half-time, Hope Munro glided a shot just wide of the goal.
China and the Netherlands will advance from Australia's pool.
Australia started the tournament on an exceptional high by recovering from a 1-4 deficit to beat Korea, and they were unbeaten after three games.
But a loss to the Netherlands and last night's result sealed their fate.
Australia's elimination from medal contention is not a total shock.
They entered the tournament ranked the No.4 side in the world and have played to around that level.
They had struggled for most of the year, finishing near last in the Champions Trophy and recently drawing a four match series against Japan 2-2.
With several major retirements in recent years, the side is trapped between eras with the older players in the side nearing the end of their careers and the younger ones still needing experience to fulfil their potential.
Injury also took its toll on the players, with Fiona Johnson ruled out before the start of the tournament, Kate Hollywood having a heavily strapped thigh last night, and Eastham also having her right knee bound.
- with AAP
