Thaindian News

Auckland, Dec 6 (IANS) Australia thrashed Pakistan 6-1 with captain Jamie Dwyer scoring a hat-trick while hosts New Zealand drew 3-3 with the Netherlands after a sensational day of action at the Owen G. Glenn FIH Champions Trophy hockey here.

Spain, too, produced a stellar performance to defeat Great Britain 8-1 in their final Pool A encounter. It was a magnificent display from the Spanish, who came back from 0-1 down to score four times in either half to seal their place in championship pool along with New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Australia continued their great form making it three wins in a row. Dwyer opened the scoring the 22nd minute when his speculative cross within the circle was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Pakistan keeper Salman Akbar. Their advantage was doubled four minutes from the end of the half when Eddie Ockenden lashed home a powerful reverse stick effort to provide some breathing space.

Australia blasted out of the blocks in the second half, laying siege to the Pakistan goal. Luke Doerner brought a good save from Akbar from a penalty corner, but when a second was awarded Doerner was on target to give Australia a 3-0 lead.

Dwyer then claimed his second of the game with a sublime touch on a cross from the left before completing his hat-trick was a calm finish from close range. Mark Patterson crashed home a sixth from a tight angle before Asian Games champion Pakistan scored a consolation goal in the 6th minute thanks to a penalty corner from Muhammad Zubair.

Dwyer took his tournament tally to six. The Kookaburras will go into next phase as winners of Pool A and will take some stopping in the Championship stages.

New Zealand fought back to claim a memorable draw with The Netherlands, a result which put both teams through to Pool C, the Championship Pool.

The Black Sticks fans turned up in their droves to North Harbour hockey stadium.

The Netherlands were superb in the first half and silenced the home crowd with two incredible goals. Billy Bakker turned his marker inside out before cracking home a powerful reverse stick shot in the 28th minute. Jeroen Hertzberger doubled the advantage a minute later with a ferocious drive into the top corner of Kyle Pontifex’s net.

Penalty corner ace Taeke Taekema made the score 3-0 in the 48th minute.

New Zealand then fought back. Goals from Blair Hilton (53rd), Phil Burrows (55th) and a dramatic penalty stroke from captain Dean Couzins two minutes from the end gave New Zealand the draw.

The key moment arrived when Simon Child found a Dutch foot on the goal-line with a penalty corner being upgraded to a penalty flick following an excellent video referral. Team captain Dean Couzins emphatically slammed the ball into the net to send the home crowd into raptures.

In another match, Korea fought back from 2-0 down to hold Germany 3-3. But both failed to move to the next phase.