Rio 2016: Britain Women Win Maiden Hockey Gold, Germany in Football

Great Britain won their first Olympic Games women's hockey gold medal on Friday with a dramatic shoot-out triumph over two-time defending champions the Netherlands.

The British twice came from behind in normal time to draw 3-3 and then clinched a 2-0 shoot-out victory.

It was the Dutch team's first loss at an Olympics since 2004 -- after a run of 21 wins -- and shattered their bid to become the first team to win three successive gold medals.

Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch played the starring role for the British team, pulling off four saves in the shoot-out.

Britain, playing in their first final, had only won two bronze medals at past Games, in 1992 and 2012.

But they were in front in the opening period against the Dutch when Lily Owsley scored from close range after Sophie Bray had dribbled past three defenders.

Kitty van Male levelled in the first minute of the second period, firing the ball into the top corner of the goal.

Maartje Paumen, bidding for her third gold, put her side in front with a penalty corner.

But the lead lasted only a minute when Crista Cullen shot past an off-balance Joyce Sombroek in the Dutch goal.

The faster, quick-breaking Dutch restored their lead for a second time through van Male after a well-worked penalty corner had caught the British defence cold.

But with eight minutes left, Nicola White saved Britain with a close-range effort after a goal-mouth scramble.

In the shoot-out, both sides missed their first two attempts but Britain grabbed the lead when Bray was fouled as she took her turn.

Helen Richardson-Walsh converted the ensuing penalty stroke.

Margot van Geffen hit the post which paved the way for Hollie Webb to hit the gold medal winner.

Earlier Friday, Germany defeated New Zealand 2-1 to win the bronze medal.

Germany clinch gold in women's football

Germany handed departing coach Silvia Neid the perfect send off by claiming women's football Olympic gold for the first time thanks to a 2-1 win over Sweden in front of a huge crowd at Rio's Maracana.

Dzsenifer Marozsan's sweet strike and Lisa Sembrant's comical own goal put Germany 2-0 up early in the second-half before Stina Blackstenius gave Sweden a lifeline.

Canada beat hosts Brazil 2-1 in Sao Paulo earlier on Friday to claim bronze.

With Brazil's men taking on Germany in their final tomorrow, the boisterous home crowd roared on the Swedes in the final stages.

However, it was to no avail as Sweden boss Pia Sundhage missed out on a third consecutive Olympic title after leading the USA to gold in 2008 and 2012.

Victory handed Neid a golden goodbye in her last game after a hugely successful 11 years in charge, including wins at the 2007 World Cup and 2009 and 2013 European championships.

Sweden had been criticised, most notably by outspoken USA goalkeeper Hope Solo, for their defensive tactics in upsetting the world champions and Brazil in the previous two rounds on penalty shootouts.

However, they started on the front foot against the two-time world champions and should have gone in front when Olivia Schough spooned over Lotta Schelin's low cross.

Germany went onto have the better chances in the first-half, though, as Melanie Leupolz headed over from close range before Anja Mittag somehow blasted wide with the goal gaping.

Marozsan showed much more composure with the first opening of the second-half as the Lyon forward curled the ball beautifully into the top corner.

Another Marozsan effort provoked Germany's second as her free-kick came back off the post and Sembrant's panicked clearance sent the ball crashing back into her own goal.

Sweden, having scored just three goals in reaching the final, finally showed their attacking abilities with a well-worked move finished off by Blackstenius five minutes later.

Schough had a huge chance to equalise five minutes from the end, but some frantic German defending finally managed to hack the ball clear.

Canada completed the podium as hosts Brazil lost for the second time in three days to miss out on a medal.

Goals either side of half-time from Deanne Rose and veteran captain Christine Sinclair on her 250th international appearance silenced a passionate crowd and saw Canada defend the bronze medal they won in London four years ago.