Emily Smith struck just four minutes from time to break South Africa hearts, ending their staunch resistance as tournament favourites Australia advanced to a semi-final date with Scotland. The sides had been locked at 1-1 for almost the entire second half as the Hockeyroos dominated the play but could not find a way through a defence marshaled by Lisa-Marie Deetlefs and Vuyisanani Mangisa.

That was until Anna Flanagan’s drag-flick was half-stopped and the defensive clearance only made it as far as Smith on the right post and she duly potted the winner. Early on, Flanagan’s corner prowess put the Aussies 1-0 up in the 12^th minute, finding the top corner with an excellent drag, her third goal of the competition. But South Africa responded well, enjoying the better chances of the second quarter and they were on terms when Izelle Lategan picked out Sulette Damons who powerfully made it 1-1 in the 20^th minute.

She went close to making it a half-time lead, too, when Nicolene Terblanche threaded a fine pass into the speedster’s path but Damons blazed wide with her driven shot when a little more finesse might yielded greater dividends. Australia, though, bossed the second period with Smith’s bouncing effort squirting just wide while Mangisa pulled off a number of good saves. But they could not see it through to full-time and Australia overcame a big hurdle in their tournament progression.