PERTH, Dec 1: Argentina and Netherlands have won all five matches in their respective pools and are almost assured of semifinal places in the women’s hockey World Cup with only two matches to play in the Pools.

Australia and Spain from Pool B and South Korea, China or Germany from Pool A, are the other semifinals contenders.

Argentina continued its undefeated run, winning 5-0 over Scotland in the only Pool B match here Sunday.

Three first half goals to Claudia Burkart, Mariana Oliva Gonzalez and Luciana Aymar and Agustina Garcia’s goal 5 minutes into the second half set Argentina up for a bigger score.

Birthday girl, Cecelia Rognoni (26) had two unsuccessful shots on goal but gave a present of Argentina’s fifth goal with sharp pass infield from the backline and a deflection in by Ines Arrondo for Argentina’s fifth goal.

Mercedes Margalot did not play after she broke her nose on Saturday against China — the second time she has broken her nose in 47 days.

Netherlands took top position in Pool B of the women’s World Cup here Sunday, beating Australia 3-1.

Australia’s defence played tentatively in the first five minutes, which allowed Dutch centre forward Donners to work possession into the circle and push a goal between the pads of Australia’s goalkeeper Rachel Imison.

Femke Kooijman shocked Australia’s supporters to silence with Netherlands’ second goal eleven minutes from the end of the first half.

Karen Smith earned Australia’s first penalty corner, carrying into the circle to draw the Dutch infringement, then struck the corner herself, getting a deflection off a Dutch defender’s stick into goal for Australia’s first goal, eight minutes into the second half.

In the middle of the second half, Australia pushed players forward, won good possession through a more open midfield and had two unsuccessful shots, paying the price when Donners shot past Dobson at midfield to pass to Minke Smabers at the left post.

Smabers stopped the pass by throwing herself flat on the pitch and flicked the ball into the net from that position to seal the match for Netherlands.

In the earlier Pool A match Germany beat New Zealand 3-1 to secure fourth place in Pool A.

New Zealand led after four minutes, converting a penalty corner. Although not stopped at the battery, Diana Weavers controlled and hit to the right post where Michelle Turner deflected in along the goal line, where the ball hit the inside edge of the left post.

Denise Klecker rebounded in Germany’s first penalty corner nine minutes later, picking up Fanny Rinne’s flick which hit high up on the right post. Klecker drove the bouncing ball into the right of goal.

Anneke Bohmert scored a brilliant goal four minutes before the break to give Germany the lead. Bohmert weaved through the right of the circle to the backline, worked along straight at goal then took two steps infield to be in front of goal, spun, and dragged the ball into the net as two defenders watched agape.

Klecker drove in a second penalty corner three minutes from time, getting a deflection off Caryn Paewai’s stick into goal next to the right post.

Results:

Germany 3 New Zealand 1

Australia 1 Netherlands 3

Argentina 5 Scotland 0

South Korea 5 Russia 0

China 4 Ukraine 1

—AFP