Sofia Cairo fired Argentina to women's Olympic hockey bronze as they beat Belgium 3-1 in a shootout after a gripping 2-2 draw on Friday.

The fired-up Belgians made the breakthrough in the eighth minute when Emma Puvrez pounced on a rebound after Cristina Cosentino pushed away Stephanie Vanden Borre's penalty corner strike.

Belgian goalkeeper Aisling D'Hooghe was in superb form, denying Agustina Gorzelany from Argentina's first penalty corner at the end of the first quarter.

But she could do little to prevent Gorzelany's lethal equaliser in the 22nd minute following another penalty corner.

Two goals in the space of a minute cranked up the temperature.

As soon as Agustina Albertarrio nudged Argentina into the lead, Belgium won a penalty corner at the other end and in the ensuing melee Justine Rasir found the net.

A cagey third quarter led into a helter-skelter fourth as both sides searched desperately for the winner.

A brilliant double save from D'Hooghe from a penalty corner in the dying seconds sent the game into a shootout.

The pressure was immediately on Belgium as they failed with their first two attempts.

When Cosentino saved Belgium's fourth attempt from Vanden Borre, it was left to Cairo to seal the bronze medal.

"This is a team that made lots of effort. I don't want to call them sacrifices, because that's what they do," said Argentina coach Fernando Ferrara.

"But the girls work hard, they left their contracts in Europe, their jobs in Europe, left their families, and came to Buenos Aires to train every day.

"This is the greatest prize they can receive, to get on the Olympic podium and live this great experience."

It is the third time Argentina have taken Olympic bronze to add to their three silver medals.

But it was a tough defeat for Belgium, who had also lost their semifinal to China in a shootout and still await their first Olympic medal in women's hockey.

The Netherlands take on China in the gold medal match at the Yves du Manoir Stadium in Colombes, northwest of Paris, at 1800 GMT.

The Dutch are looking to double up after their men's side took gold on Thursday.