The Dutch side, the reigning Olympic champions and gold medal favourites, overpowered United States with a 4-1 victory in the third round of matches today.

FIH Player of the Year Lidewij Welten scored twice in what proved a double celebration for head coach Alyson Annan, who was also celebrating her 43rd birthday. 

"There is still a lot to improve," said Welten after the match.

"It's not about being there already but getting there and making every game much better.

"In the first game we got a lot of corners and made them but now you see that we are making our field chances as well."

Argentina battled hard to edge Australia 2-1 in the first match of the day.

Noel Barrionuevo fired home a third quarter penalty corner before team captain Carla Rebecchi scored a superb solo goal - her fifth of the tournament - to double the advantage seven minutes from time.

Kathryn Slattery scored a brilliant individual goal to reduce the deficit with three minutes remaining, but it proved a consolation goal.

Hosts Britain continued to struggle on home turf as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to New Zealand in the final match of the day.

A fine solo goal from Stacey Michelsen proved the only difference between the two teams.