New Delhi:
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 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.
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 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 close 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 Lampur.