Australia won their second successive Commonwealth Games women's hockey gold with a nerve-wracking 4-2 win over New Zealand on penalties in the final here on Wednesday.
Jessica Nicole scored the winner while Krystal Forgesson missed her attempt in the penalty shoot-out after the scores were tied 2-2 at the end of the regulation period and extra-time.
The defending champions, ranked one rung over New Zealand at six, were tested by their gritty trans-Tasman rivals in the high-intensity clash played before a sizeable crowd at the sun-baked Major Dhyan Chand stadium.
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The victory -- Australia's first in a major tournament after their gold in the 2006 Melbourne Games -- turned out to be a sweet send-off for coach Frank Murray, who is set to quit after the event.
"It was a fairly even game," said Australian forward Megan Rivers. "There were periods when we were on top and periods when they were on top. There is always a lot of rivalry when we play each other.
"It is fantastic to win the gold because there are many girls in the team who are playing their first Games. It is huge for everyone in the team."
It was Nicole who put Australia in the lead in the ninth minute after converting a penalty corner with a searing drag-flick that tore past Kiwi keeper Beth Jurgeleit.
The Kiwis missed a good chance to level the scores shortly before the end of the first-half with Anna Thorpe failing to put the ball in despite having just the goalkeeper to beat.
But New Zealand bounced back in the second-half and scored the equaliser through striker Samantha Harrison who converted a short corner off a rebound in the 48th.
Australia struck again to take a 2-1 lead after Asleigh Nelson converted a penalty in the 59th, only to see the Kiwis level the scores just at the final hooter off a Clarissa Eshuis strike.
It was New Zealand's best Games result, eclipsing the bronze medal they won in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur.
New Zealand's Emily Naylor said the team will try to take positives from the defeat.
"We would have loved to win but we are pretty pleased with our performance," she said. "We were a bit flat in the first half. I guess we were a little nervous and they got on top of us.
"We didn't play as aggressively as wanted to. We tried to stay calm and focussed but it was very tough out there. The Australian defence was very solid and denied us a few times."
England rode on a match-winning goal by Georgie Twigg in the 13th minute to beat South Africa 1-0 and take home the bronze.
It was the second bronze in a row for England, the world number five, after having finished third in the 2006 Melbourne Games.
The 'Bronze Goddess' had finished third in the Champions Trophy and also at the World Cup last month.
South Africa, ranked number 12, failed to break their medal duck at the Games.
