Golden Goal Gives China 1st Win and 7th Place in Olympic Ice Hockey

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Golden Goal Gives China 1st Win and 7th Place in Olympic Ice Hockey

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China Defeated Kazakhstan in Women's Ice Hockey Competition

Veteran forward Liu Hongmei's golden goal in the over-time awarded the Chinese women a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan and a seventh place finish in the ice hockey competition of the 19th Winter Olympic Games here on Tuesday.

Liu, who scored twice in China's 5-5 draw with Germany on Saturday, notched her third goal of the games with a quick slap shot amid a scramble before the Kazakhstan goal at 1:39 in the extra time, giving China the first victory in the eight-squad women's ice hockey tournament.

"They (Kazakhstan) played really hard and I am so happy that wefinally won," the 30-year-old Liu said after the game.

China survived the fierce attack from Kazakhstan and 55 secondsof two-player shortage in between the third period and the over-time before Liu scored the game winner.

With 46 seconds remaining in the third period and China alreadyshort-handed, Liu was sent to the box for hooking, leaving four Chinese players including the goalie Guo Hong on the field againstsix from Kazakhstan.

After a time-out called by Chinese coach Yao Naifeng, Guo, who blocked 34 of the 35 shots from Kazakhstan, made several splendid saves to have the scoresheet remain 1-1 before China rallied with full strength.

"I am so happy that I saved China a chance to win," said Guo, who will retire from the national side right after the Olympics.

"This was my last game with Team China. This was the best gamewe had even though it was really hard," she added.

In Tuesday's other action, the United States whitewashed Sweden4-0 in the semi-finals to set up a final clash with Canada, 7-3 winners over Finland, on Thursday while Russia trounced Germany 5-0 in the 5th-6th game.

China led most of the game before Nadezhda Losyeva broke the tiring Chinese defense to level it 1-1 with 2:14 to go in the third period.

"The team was really tired from all the games and after Kazakhstan's tying goal we woke up and we decided to go for it andwe knew that we could do it." said Guo.

Yang Xiuqing, who tied with Liu as China's top scorer at the Games, opened the scoring for China only 3:07 into the game as herclose range shot was deflected home by the skate of Kazakhstan goaltender Natalya Trunova.

Kazakhstan almost had it leveled with less than two minutes to go in the first period, but Guo made two impossible saves with only herself to beat to keep the Chinese goal intact.

The Chinese women, who won the fourth place at the 18th Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, completed their mission in Salt Lake City with one win, one draw and three defeats.

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