SYDNEY, April 25: Australia won the men's field hockey Four-Nation Challenge here on Sunday with a 7-1 win over Malaysia, repeating their win in the Four-Nation Challenge in Canberra last week against the same teams.
South Africa upset India, winning 1-0, to take third place. Adam Commens and Jamie Dwyer scored doubles for Australia, Troy Elder converted a penalty corner and Andrew Smith and Michael Brennan added field goals in the one-sided match.
Long periods of play had 21 players inside Malaysia's defensive half as Malaysia played a half-court defence. Malaysia broke out three times and earned two penalty corners with Kuhan Shanmuganathan firing wide and into Australia's goalkeeper successively.
The third breakout landed Malaysia its only goal from a free hit by Kuhan just outside the circle, deflected high into goal by Boon Huat Chua in the first minute of the second half. In the play-off for third and fourth places, South Africa upset India to win 1-0.
South Africa played a tight marking game and concentrated for a full 70 minutes to deny India any goals. Greg Nicol converted one of South Africa's seven penalty corners to score the only goal of the match. -AFP
