BEIJING, Aug 16: Former champions Australia were set for a tough Chinese challenge after world No 1 the Netherlands cruised into the semi-finals of the Olympic field hockey on Saturday.

The Dutch girls became the first team to advance to the last four when they beat the Hockeyroos 2-1 for their fourth successive win in pool A.

Penalty corner specialist Maartje Paumen struck once in each half to seal the Dutch victory after Sarah Young had given Australia the lead in the 17th minute.

The defeat left Australia tied in second place with hosts China, their rivals in Monday’s crucial last league match which will lift the winners into the semi-finals.

China drew level with Australia on nine points with a stunning 6-1 demolition of Asian rivals South Korea in which Tang Chunling and Fu Baorong both slammed hat-tricks.

Meanwhile, world No 2 Argentina roared back into form with a 4-0 win over defending champions Germany that threw open the semi-final race in Pool ‘B’.

After a goalless first half, Argentina raced ahead in the session with two goals from Alejandra Gulla and one each from Claudia Burkart and Luciana Aymar.

The South Americans moved to eight points, one behind Germany, with both teams needing to win their last ties to advance.Argentina face winless New Zealand, while the German girls clash with Japan.

The US scored their first win in the tournament with a 4-1 victory over New Zealand in Pool ‘B’.

The American girls, ranked 11th in the world, were lying third behind Germany and Argentina with five points, one more than both Britain and Japan.

New Zealand, ranked three places above the United States at number eight, struggled after Keli Smith put the Americans ahead in the first minute and Angela Loy made it 2-0 in the 12th. Joanne Galletly reduced the margin for New Zealand two minutes into the second half, but Smith and Kayla Bashore pumped in two more goals for the US to seal a facile win.—AFP