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Nikki Hudson of Australia fights for the ball with Mariette Rix of South Africa - REUTERS |
JUST about everything went according to script for record-breaking Hockeyroo Nikki Hudson at the Beijing Olympics last night.
The revitalised co-captain celebrated her landmark 300th game for Australia by inspiring a 3-0 win over lowly South Africa.
Little went wrong for Nikki Hudson on the night she became the first Hockeyroo - and second Australian hockey player overall - to break through the 300-game barrier.
It was the third win from as many pool games for the world No.4 Hockeyroos who are desperate to bounce back from their disappointing fifth placing at Athens.
And for the third straight game Hudson scored a pivotal goal to lift the team.
But not everything went to plan for Hudson - she was unable to register her 100th career goal despite going agonisingly close several times tonight.
It wasn't to be - not that Hudson was complaining.
Hudson, 32, did not waste time setting the scene for a memorable night at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.
In the 10th minute she attacked from the right wing and crossed to a waiting Casey Eastham, only to have her shot deflected into the goal by South African Vidette Ryan.
The goal was awarded to an ecstatic Hudson who gestured skyward, no doubt to her beloved 89-year-old grandmother and "biggest fan" Enid Mott who died recently.
It was career goal No.99 for the 15-year Hockeyroo who has found a new gear at Beijing, her third Olympics.
Hudson is one of only three survivors from Australia's Sydney Games gold medal winning team.
The others - Angie Lambert and goalkeeper Rachel Imison - also played pivotal roles tonight.
Lambert made it 2-0 with a 44th minute penalty stroke while Imison was rock solid, holding out a gutsy South Africa with some memorable first half saves.
Eastham - who was a fan asking the Hockeyroos for autographs at Sydney - made it 3-0 when she pounced on a deflection from a corner in the 62nd minute.
The 10th minute goal wasn't the only headache Hudson caused South Africa's Ryan.
In the 30th minute, the Hockeyroos co-captain was again on the attack when she accidentally struck the ball into the pursuing Ryan's face.
A bloodied Ryan was stretchered from the field.
