The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Kookaburras reach Hockey Champions Trophy final

15th June, 2016
Advertisement
The Kookaburras are through to the Champions trophy final. AAP Image/Paul Miller
15th June, 2016
1
1129 Reads

The Kookaburras have secured a spot in the final of hockey’s Champions Trophy after an uninspiring 2-0 win over Belgium.

After a scoreless first half, Australia lifted the tempo through second-half goals to Glenn Turner and Tristan White at London’s Queen Elizabeth Park.

The win puts Australia three points clear at the top of the table over India with one game to play, while Great Britain are two points further adrift in third place.

With the top two automatically qualifying for the final, the Kookaburras’ clash with India on Thursday will determine who they will face in the championship match.

If India win, they’ll face Australia again in the Friday final, while a loss could potentially open the door for the winner of Great Britain or Belgium to make a late run.

The unbeaten Kookaburras played out a scoreless draw with the hosts on Friday, but regardless of the scenario coach Graham Reid will ask for a far better outing against India than what he saw on Wednesday.

“It was a good lesson for us,” he said.

“We didn’t wake up until the second quarter of the game and then we started to play a bit better.

Advertisement

“The numbers behind the scene weren’t good for us tonight, whereas normally they are.

“They’re usually a sign that we create a lot of opportunities and that we don’t give too many away but tonight was opposite.”

Belgium had the best of the early opportunities, but Australia secured the first goal of the match in the 38th minute via Turner after a deflection from Aran Zalewski.

White extended Australia’s lead with another field goal in the 49th minute.

The world champion Australians were then forced to stave off two last-ditch penalty corners from the Red Lions before the final whistle to wrap up their third win of the tournament.

close