MCT: Silver for Kookaburras
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| Hockey Australia |
August 26, 2003
Hockey Australia
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Netherlands 4 d Australia 2 (Half time 2-1)
Goals: Netherlands - Matthijs Brouwer FG 25m, Piet Hein Geeris FG 30m, Teun de Nooijer FG 61m, Karel Klaver FG 66m; Australia ? Craig Victory PC 29m, Troy Elder PC 59m
Player of the tournament: Teun de Nooijer (NED)
Top goalscorer: Jorge Lombi (ARG) - 10
Most promising player: Grant Schubert (AUS)
Fairest player: Jeroen Delmee (NED)
After scoring to draw level with the Netherlands twice in the match, the Kookaburras conceded goals after the restart of play on both occasions in a 4-2 loss in the final of the men?s Champions Trophy in Amsterdam tonight.
An inability to consolidate after scoring dashed the Kookaburras? hopes of a first title since 1999 as they handed their opponents a crucial advantage which they converted into a third Champions Trophy crown in four years.
After a tight opening, both teams had an opportunity to open their accounts at the 17-minute mark as play swung from one end of the field to the other. After Troy Elder?s penalty corner flick hit the crossbar, the Dutch rebounded into attack with Teun de Nooijer?s shot cleared by Kookaburras defender Bevan George.
An increased control of midfield possession midway through the half ultimately gave the Netherlands the lead through Matthijs Brouwer in the 25th minute. Brouwer found enough space inside the circle to deflect Jeroen Delmee?s free hit past Kookaburras goalkeeper Mark Hickman on the left post.
Australia was rewarded for applied penalty corner pressure on their fourth attempt as Craig Victory continued his good form with a reverse stick rebound off Matthew Wells? strike to draw level at 1-1.
The Kookaburras? joy was short-lived as Piet Hein Geeris restored the Dutch lead less than a minute later with a cracking reverse stick shot after a transfer down the right. Further attacking opportunities for the Kookaburras from penalty corners went begging in the final few minutes of the first half as the Netherlands took a 2-1 lead to the break.
Two missed goal scoring chances with 15 minutes to go, the first a missed deflection in front of an open net, were compounded when Wells received a yellow card for a mistimed tackle soon after. Despite playing with 10 men due to Wells? absence, the Kookaburras continued to press and Elder found his penalty corner range with a trademark drag flick as Australia clawed back to 2-2.
However for the second time in the match Australia was unable to hold out the Dutch and payed a heavy price with de Nooijer scoring from the restart with a run down the left and then a push past Hickman.
The Netherlands then secured their third Champions Trophy title in four years and second in a row with Karel Klaver?s breakaway goal with just three minutes remaining.
In the day?s other matches, Pakistan defeated India 4-3 to take the bronze medal while Argentina kept Germany winless for the tournament with a 2-1 victory in the playoff for fifth position. Highlights of all matches are available from SNTV and Reuters.
The Kookaburras return to Australia on Tuesday and will have two weeks rest before gathering in Melbourne for a training camp prior to the Oceania Cup against New Zealand from 17-21 September. The winner of the Oceania Cup will gain direct qualification to next year?s Athens Olympic Games, with the three-match series to be played in Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand.
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