Chinese goalkeeper Nie Yali (C) eyes the ball during a melee inside the circle during the Pool A match between China (blue) and Spain (red). (Agencies)

China outclassed Spain 3-0 to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Olympic women's field hockey competition.

Tang Chunling put the Chinese ahead in the 14th minute and Fu Baorong pumped in a second goal just before half-time.

Spain defended stoutly in the second-half but could not prevent Gao Lihua adding to the tally 12 minutes before the final whistle.

It will be the first Olympic semi-final appearance for the Chinese, virtually unknown in women's hockey till the 1990s.

They finished fifth at the Sydney Games four years ago, but then took a huge leap by winning the 2002 Champions Trophy.

China, who play world champions Argentina in the last group A match on Sunday to decide the league winners, are the only team in the 10-nation event yet to concede a goal.

They defeated Asian rivals Japan 3-0 and New Zealand 2-0 in the previous matches.

Spain, who won the gold at home in Barcelona in 1992, are out of contention for the semi-finals with their second consecutive defeat. They lost to Argentina 0-4 in the first game.

Chinese coach Hai Xian was already looking ahead at Sunday's match against Argentina.

"It will be nice to top the group going into the semi-finals," he said.

"We have achieved our first target, now the real battle starts."
 

(Agencies)

field hockey : （曲棍球）

outclass: to surpass decisively, so as to appear of a higher class（遠高于, 遠勝過）

stoutly: （剛強地, 堅決地）

contention: a striving to win in competition; rivalry（競爭）