MADRAS, 15 December 2005 — Olympic gold-medalists Australia stormed into the Champions Trophy field hockey final here yesterday, leaving behind a mad scramble for the second spot.
Australia defeated the Netherlands 3-2 to record their fourth consecutive win in the six-nation tournament, making the last league match against Pakistan inconsequential.
The Dutch, second behind the Aussies on seven points, must beat hosts India tomorrow to be assured of qualifying for Sunday’s title clash.
Defending champions Spain (six points) and Germany (five) clash in another crucial game tomorrow after ousting Asian giants Pakistan and India from the medals race.
Germany, rebuilding for the future following the retirement of eight seniors after the Athens Olympics last year, rode on Jan Marco Montag’s 19th-minute penalty corner to defeat India 1-0. Spain swept aside Pakistan 4-2 with Pol Amat scoring two goals and David Alegre and Xavier Ribas one each.
Pakistan reduced the margin through Mudassar Khan and Mohammad Saqlain, but were confined to the bottom of the table with a solitary point from four matches.
“I would not bet on who will be the second finalist,” said Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks. “Let’s wait till Friday, shall we?” Michael McCann scored Australia’s match-winner two minutes from the final whistle after the Dutch twice drew level through penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema.
McCann beat the Dutch defense and executed a reverse hit from the top of the circle that caught veteran goalkeeper Guus Vogets on the wrong foot. Australia, who won their maiden Olympic title in Athens by defeating the Netherlands in the final, continued their supremacy over the Dutch despite resting first-choice goalkeeper Stephen Lambert.
Matt Naylor put Australia ahead in the 13th minute and went into the record books as the scorer of the 2,000th goal in the 27-year history of the Champions Trophy.
Taekema drew level for the Dutch seven minutes later with his team’s first penalty corner, but Andrew Smith gave the Kookaburas the lead once more in the 27th with a stinging penalty corner hit.
The Netherlands went on the attack in the second half and were rewarded with another Taekema penalty corner special that made it 2-2 in the 42nd minute.
