World champions the Netherlands upset the second-ranked Argentina 5-2 in the Olympic women's hockey semifinals on Wednesday.

The Dutch, the Athens silver medalists, underlined their supremacy once again by blanking Argentina 3-0 at halftime. The first two goals came from Maartje Paumen in the 9th and 25th minute and the third was from Marilyn Agliotti in the 31st.

Maartje Paumen scored her third in the 47th which gave the Netherlands 4-0 lead. Her teammate Ellen Hoog added another in the 68th.

Argentina, the Athens bronze medalists, got their two goals from Marine Russo in the 59th and Alejandra Gulla in the last minute.

The Netherlands now confront China for gold, and Argentina play Germany for the bronze.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)