Argentina claim Olympic women's hockey bronze

PARIS, Aug 09 (AFP): Sofia Cairo fired Argentina to women's Olympic hockey bronze as they beat Belgium 3-1 in a shootout after a gripping 2-2 draw on Friday.

The fired-up Belgians made the breakthrough in the eighth minute when Emma Puvrez pounced on a rebound after Cristina Cosentino pushed away Stephanie Vanden Borre's penalty corner strike.

Belgian goalkeeper Aisling D'Hooghe was in superb form, denying Agustina Gorzelany from Argentina's first penalty corner at the end of the first quarter.

But she could do little to prevent Gorzelany's lethal equaliser in the 22nd minute following another penalty corner.

Two goals in the space of a minute cranked up the temperature.

As soon as Agustina Albertarrio nudged Argentina into the lead, Belgium won a penalty corner at the other end and in the ensuing melee Justine Rasir found the net.

A cagey third quarter led into a helter-skelter fourth as both sides searched desperately for the winner.

A brilliant double save from D'Hooghe from a penalty corner in the dying seconds sent the game into a shootout.