RAIPUR : World champions Australia got the better of defending champions The Netherlands 3-2 in a high-voltage semifinal to progress into the title clash of the ongoing Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium here today.
It was a match between the world’s two top teams and it turned out to be an exciting affair as Australia scored through Dylan Wotherspoon (8th minute), Daniel Beale (22nd minute) and Matt Gohdes (42nd), while Constantijn Jonker (29th) and Mirco Pruijser (33rd) were the goal scorers for The Netherlands, who slumped to their first defeat in the tournament.
Australia started strongly and had a better share of the possession and shots at the goal in the first 25 minutes of the game. Australia secured as many as four penalty corners in the opening two quarters but utilised just one.
Australia tasted success in the eighth minute when Wotherspoon scored after some brilliant stick work by Dwyer. Netherlands replied back strongly in the next minute but Roel Bovendeert’s effort was kept away by an alert Australian custodian Andrew Charter.
Australia opened up a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute to take a firm control of the match. The Dutch, however, responded brilliantly and pumped in two goals in the 29th and the 33rd minute draw level.
Australia, however, were not to be denied as they scored what turned out to be the match-winner in the 42rd minute.
It was Jamie Dwyer’s 350th international outing for Australia. “It doesn’t feel like I’ve played 350 games,” said Dwyer. “I just want to go out there and play for my country, and to do it so many times, I’m very proud and honoured so. I guess this year I had something to prove, both to myself and to those people who didn’t think I could do it at 36. It is good to be out there, not just participating but also having an influence.”