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Defending champions Australia cruised into final of the men’s hockey World Cup with an utterly dominant 5-1 semi-final demolition of Argentina in the Hague. |
A day after their female counterparts reached the final with a thrilling shootout victory over the United States, Australia’s men provided no heart attacks as they carried on their superb form to remain unbeaten this tournament.
The match was all but decided by halftime, after a near-flawless 35 minutes that delivered three goals for Australia and zero shots on goal for Argentina.
The kookaburras were nearly as impressive after the break, adding a further two goals.
It sets up a dream showdown with hosts the Netherlands, who booked their place in Sunday’s final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over England.
After just four minutes Kieran Govers had opened the scoring from a penalty corner with his fourth goal of the tournament, continuing Australia’s terrific record of striking early - it was the fifth consecutive game in which they’d scored in the opening seven minutes.
Australia continued to press and a second goal was delivered when Govers earned a penalty corner - and Jeremy Hayward drilled it home the first of his two goals.
By the time young gun Jacob Whetton produced a sensational reverse stick strike to stretch the advantage to three goals, with halftime in sight, the result was virtually assured.
Not even a green card, and two-minute sin bin, for Australia’s five-time player-of-the-year Jamie Dwyer could stop the slaughter.
Dwyer was accused of “taking the mickey” by umpire Hamish Jamson, and was punished for time-wasting after denying Argentina the opportunity to take a quick free hit early in the second half. Australia drilled home their advantage with Chris Ciriello and Hayward again converting penalty corners as the lead ballooned.
With 12 minutes remaining, the Kookaburras conceded just their second goal of the tournament when Argentina’s penalty corner specialist, Gonzalo Peillat, breached the defences of goalkeeper Andrew Charter.
The tournament’s leading scorer, Peillat, delivered a blistering strike to give Argentina some small consolation.
England’s men failed to reach the final as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by the Netherlands earlier in the day. Mink van der Weerden’s deflected penalty corner put Netherlands ahead just five minutes before the break.
England were the stronger side in the second half, as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but the Dutch defence held firm.
England were attempting to reach their first World Cup final since 1986, when they took silver. It is the fifth time since being crowned European champions in 2009 that England has lost a semi-final, following defeats at the Europeans (twice), the Commonwealth Games and the World League Final.
Argentina face defending champions Australia in the second semi-final later on Friday. England will play the loser in the bronze medal match at 11:00 BST on Sunday.
England had the first chance just 17 seconds into the match as Ashley Jackson’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann but after that, the Dutch dominated the rest of he half.
After the break, England began to create chances, with Jackson having the best opportunity from a penalty corner, but ultimately, Bobby Crutchley’s side could not find a way through.
“We knew it was going to be tough, they are a very talented side,” said England’s Ashley Jackson. “We wanted to keep it as close as possible for as long as possible. We had a few chances near the end but it wasn’t meant to be.”
India seek revenge against South Korea
Dejected at failing to improve upon their eight-place finish of the last edition, India have a lot at stake in the ninth-position playoff against South Korea in the men’s hockey World Cup.
India not only seek revenge for their 3-4 loss against Korea in the 2013 Asia Cup final but both the teams’ also have the Asian Games on the radar when they face off today.
India were the last of reserve teams to clinch a spot among the 12-nation lineup for the World Cup, where four-time champions Pakistan were missing from the first time in the tournament’s history.
Three months ahead of the Asian Games in Incheon, India are eager to put aside their disappointment of a lacklustre show in this World Cup and seek to produce their best game against South Korea, the continental champions.
