HOckey World Cup 2010 - - Australia Set a Final Against Germany: Third Consecutive Title-round Clash in World Cup

New Delhi: Australia fretted, fumed and sweated over some referrals in the dying minutes. Germany were comfortable as time approached for the long hooter.

Though the contrasting styles of their semifinal victories were not according to expectations, a third consecutive title-round clash in World Cup.

Australia overcame thrice-champions The Netherlands 2-1 after the Germans had scored a surprisingly easy 4-1 victory over European champions England on a day that belonged to the goalkeepers, Dutch veteran Guus Vogels standing out in his last international outing.

The Aussies dominated early on, Grant Schubert coming close to scoring twice. He once hit Vogels’s helmet. It took a penalty-corner conversion from Luke Doerner to put Australia ahead in the 26th minute.

The second half gained in pace as the clock ticked away, Glenn Turner’s strike getting Australia their second goal. Robert Hammond’s fine midfield play ensured the ball was moved around but the run of play was to change soon.

A penalty-corner that resulted in a ‘stroke’ because of an infringement confirmed by a referral got the Dutch a goal. After they had failed to convert three penalty-corners, Taeke Taekema reduced the margin to instill life in the proceedings. For the first time since their loss to England on the opening day, the Aussies looked fallible when the Dutch pressed in.

“We had to be cautious towards the end, but we thought we had things in control,” said Australian player Mark Knowles, one of the rotating captains of the team, which was led by Liam de Young against the Dutch.