Korea 3 defeated AUSTRALIA 2 (1-1 half time)
Goals: Australia: Emily Hurtz FG 7 min, Amy Korner PC 37 min Korea: Park Mi Hyun min FG 29 min; Lee Soo Kyung PC 43 min; Lee Soo Kyung PC 49 min
A large crowd watched a high powered, even first half at Duracraft Hockey Stadium in Perth.
Australia had the first break in the 7th minute when Amy Korner brought the ball down the left wing and crossed to Emily Hurtz who powered home a tomahawk into the top left hand corner.
Another penalty corner to Australia a few minutes later was saved first by goalie Jang Soo Ji and although picked up by Hope Munro was again pushed wide.
Korea had just as many penetrations and Park Mi Hyun had a cracking tomahawk well saved by Rachael Lynch. A Korean penalty immediately after was a near perfect drag flick that hit the top post.
The game swung from end to end and Ashley Nelson brought the ball down the right, scooped it over a stick and orchestrated a penalty corner. A hard hit by Shelly Liddelow was saved by the goalie.
Australia seemed to have a little more freedom in attack and Munro and Catriona Bailey-Price looked dangerous.
With 6 minutes to go in the half a well timed pass to Park Mi Hyun was deflected by her to even the score. Almost immediately Australia had a penalty corner saved by the goalie.
With two minutes to go three Australian players brought the ball forward in the circle, all nearly scoring with the last lunge by Ashley Nelson deflected out. With thirty seconds to go Korner had only the goalie to beat but Park Jeong Sook deflected the ball away with a full body dive.
In the second half Australia had renewed energy and within two minutes a clever variation to the penalty corner was deflected in by Amy Korner.
Korea quickly had it at their end and two penalties and both were bravely saved the first Fiona Johnson. The third was well flicked by Lee Soo Kyung to even the score 2-2.
Soon after another penalty corner is again saved by the first runner Johnson, however the second was powered into the bottom right by Lee Soo Kyung.
Korea looked in control for the rest of the game. With ten minutes to go and in a narrow escape a cross to Kim Jong Hee was deflected just above the roof of the goal.