Australia moved to the top of the table at the men’s field hockey Champions Trophy alongside Spain and Argentina after notching up a 3-1 win over Germany on Thursday.
In the day’s other game, South Korea scored a shock 4-3 win over the Netherlands.
Australia effectively shut Germany out of their match with a moving press which stymied most counterattacks.
PHOTO: AFP
Australia’s Jamie Dwyer was in top form, scoring his side’s first early in the opening period by deflecting a quickly taken free hit outside the circle into the goal.
Germany’s Florian Keller became the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals by converting his side’s third penalty corner.
The Germans were unable to capitalize on the separate yellow-cardings of Australia duo Luke Doerner and Eddie Ockenden.
Dwyer then had a goal disallowed by the video umpire, but Australia responded with breaks through midfield to rip apart Germany’s defense and create four chances with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Fergus Kavanagh and Ockenden scored from two of the chances set up by Mark Knowles and Dwyer, while Travis Brooks fluffed his chance, failing to get a shot on goal.
Australia coach Barry Dancer saw three positives in Australia’s performance.
“Our defense, our pressing and our counterattacks were good for us, but we need to improve our finishing when we have only the goalkeeper to beat,” Dancer said. “Although we had one player in suspension for 15 minutes, we responded well as a team in terms of the collective effort and I was pleased with our structure and organization during that time.”
Dancer’s German counterpart Markus Weise said his team lost because they had not followed his tactical plan.
“The first half was really bad for us as the players did not stick to the tactical plan and we did not play well against Australia’s moving press,” Weise said. “The second half was a little better, but we did not have the mental ability to react to Australia or to capitalize on the suspensions they incurred. The score could have been 5-2 against us with all the chances Australia had.”
South Korea’s first victory of the tournament was based on a fast-moving second half that wore the Dutch down.
Teun de Nooijer deflected in the Netherlands first goal and South Korea replied with a penalty corner by Jang Jong-hyun late in the first half, followed within minutes by a field goal to captain Seo Jong-ho.
Roderick Weusthof’s penalty corner conversion got the Dutch back in the match and Ronald Brouwer’s field goal off a pass from his cousin Matthijs had the hosts 3-2 up early in the second half.
But South Korea exploited the tiring Dutchmen by putting on an extra striker, forced a penalty stroke, converted with a looping scoop into the top of the net by Yeo Woon-kon.
South Korea forced a penalty corner in the last minutes and Jang converted for the winner.
“I’m not pleased with the performance of the team,” Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans said. “We will have to play better if we are not to be left playing off for last place.”
Korea coach Cho Myung-jun was delighted to have a win in the tournament.
“We tried to show the Dutch public that we can beat the Netherlands and we are thrilled to have done that,” Cho said.
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