Bhubaneswar: Defending champions and World No. 2 Australia took one more step towards retaining their title with a fluent 3-0 win over Germany in the semifinals of the Men’s Hockey World League Finals (HWLF) at the Kalinga Stadium here Saturday. They will lock horns with the World No.1 side and Olympic champions Argentina in the final, Sunday.
After a barren first half, Dylan Wotherspoon (42nd), Jeremy Hayward (47th) and Tom Wickham (60th) struck for Australia to complete an emphatic margin of victory, something that did not seem possible in the first 30 minutes of play.
Though Germany played attacking hockey and had better ball possession, Australians were more penetrative and utilised the limited number of chances that came their way.
The first half saw both the teams playing with great intensity. In the first quarter, both sides had an equal number of chances. Mats Grambusch of Germany had his shot parried away by Aussie goalie Tristan Clemns while on the other Hayward shot wide from the top of the German ‘D’. Both sides had a penalty corner apiece, but failed to convert.
The deadlock continued in the second quarter also. Once, Florian Fuchs worked his way down the middle, played a one-two with Christopher Ruhr, but again his hit was saved by Clemens. Germany had another chance to go ahead in the 17th minute from their second penalty corner, but an agile Australian defence was quick off the goalline to prevent a goal.
The third quarter belonged to the Australians. Wotherspoon continued with his good form of the tournament and scored with a brilliant hit after cutting in from the left. He hoodwinked a couple of German defenders before unleashing a piledriver which did not give Walter Tobias any chance.
With a one-goal advantage, it was clear that Australians would be on the lookout for breakaway moves. The Germans, in search of the equaliser, went all out in the fourth and last quarter. And two minutes into the session they were caught in their tracks as a quick breakaway by Mark Knowles and Blake Grovers, found the German defenders hopelessly out of position. Glover’s shot hit a German defender’s foot and off the resultant penalty corner, the Australians set up a nice variation for Hayward to score.
Germany made desperate attempts to regain lost ground and in the process earned two penalty corners in the space of a minute. However, on both occasions Clemens came up with fine saves. Australia on the other hand, again scored through Wickham who finished off a fluent move with an easy tap in.
Germany will now face India for the bronze medal game. The two sides had met in a pool encounter with the Germans winning 2-0.
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