Towers' 58th-minute strike for Australia was just not enough

Germany pressured the three-time gold medal winners from the start.

First-half strikes from Nadine Ernsting Krienke and Silke Mueller put Germany ahead, before Julie Towers knocked home a cross to reduce the deficit.

But Australia then blew two great chances to level, failing to convert a brace of second-half penalty corners.

Elsewhere in Pool B, serious gold medal contenders Holland kicked off their campaign with a crushing 6-2 victory over South Africa.

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Dutch captain Mijntje Donners scored the first goal after just five minutes from a penalty corner routine.

Jenny Wilson quickly levelled for South Africa, but from there on the 2000 Olympic bronze medallists took over and scored four more before the break.

Holland relaxed in the second half and could only manage one strike, while South Africa pulled one goal back.

Elsewhere, China beat Japan 3-0 in their opening Pool A game, with Fu Baorong, Tang Chunling and Chen Qiuqi scoring the goals.

In the other Pool A tie, Ayelen Iara Stepnik, Maria Cecilia Rognoni, Agustina Soledad Garcia and Vanina Paula Oneto all got on the scoresheet as Argentina eased past Spain 4-0.