ngland’s women won commonwealth games hockey gold for the first time in the event’s history with a shocking 2-1 win over favorites Australia.
The Australians had suffered only two defeats in the final in Game history and had a strong dream of winning gold for the fifth time in Birmingham.
In a close match, England scored twice in the second quarter. First Flora Peel crossed for Holly Hunt to score a stunning opener and moments later Peel was the supplier again as Tess Howard to double the host’s advantage.
Australia was the better side for most of the encounter and put up the pressure for the remaining half. In the last quarter England were consistently deep in their half, but fended off a series of attacks and penalty corners.
That defense eventually capitulated when Ambrosia Malone found the net, but by then there were only 19 seconds left and the gold was already out of the Australians’ reach.
Afterwards, England captain Hollie Pearne-Webb said: “I’m a bit lost for words. It’s the first time in history we’ve ever done this.
“It’s a new group. I think the next two years will be quite exciting as we join the GB squad as the Scots and Welshmen come in.
“The public support has been absolutely phenomenal. I feel so lucky that it is in my career that we have a Commonwealth Games at home.”
Match organizers had hoped this would be a sort of Super Sunday for the England women’s teams, but that blew a little bit as the netballers and cricketers lost their respective semi-finals.
The hockey players were arguably the least eager to win gold from that trio against the Hockeyroos, despite six English players causing a shock in Team GB that won Olympic gold in 2016.