MARIAH Williams and her Hockeyroos teammates have bowed out of the Tokyo Olympics, after a devastating 1-nil loss to India on Monday afternoon.
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Starting as heavy favourites, Australia were expected to deal with India clinically, and brutally, but a gutsy defensive effort from the world's ninth-ranked side ensured it would be the underdogs who prevailed through a Gurjit Kaur goal.
Australia almost got off to the perfect start, with exquisite dribbling from Steph Kershaw leading to a blocked shot from Rosie Malone just minute into the game.
While it was clear India were a little rougher around the edges than Australia, the women in sky blue were able to generate a dangerous chance of their own just moments later, with Rachael Lynch just able to save a shot after a hectic scramble in the circle.
Australia were earning themselves plenty of chances during the second quarter, but lacked the polish of their previous four wins, before tragedy struck.
A perfect shot from Kaur at the top of the circle from a penalty corner could not elicit a successful save from Lynch, and a jubilant India celebrated accordingly.
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From there, Australia started to look a bit deflated, and were pushing the pass too much - something commentator Georgie Parker noted on the broadcast.
The veteran Hockeyroo said it would be an 'absolute travesty if Australia was to lose the game' given how often the side was peppering the Indian defence.
Unfortunately, despite a number of strong shots from Williams, Malone and Savannah Fitzpatrick, Australia wasn't clean enough when it counted; meaning it would be India that would be progressing to the semi finals.
Williams had an outstanding tournament at striker, and a number of young players, particularly Amy Lawton, stepped up for the Hockeyroos.
At the end of the day, the girls should hold their heads high, despite the devastating result.
They produced some marvellous results in a tournament where many people did not expect the side to challenge, and after a dramatic year that saw their dirty laundry aired in public.
They've done us proud. What a turnaround!
HOCKEYROOS 0 defeated by INDIA 1 (Kaur 22')
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