September 13, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 19, 1427

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MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany), Sept 12: Australia showed its Athens Olympic gold medal class at the men's field hockey World Cup Championship here Monday, thrashing trans-Tasman neighbour New Zealand 7-1 and advancing to the semi-finals.

In the second game of the day, Japan posted its first win of the championship, with a 4-3 win over a flagging Argentina side.

Australia stamped its authority on the match in the first two minutes when Jamie Dwyer scored from the left of the circle after a break by Troy Elder.

New Zealand equalised 18 minutes later, Mitesh Patel pouncing on a rebound off Australian goalkeeper Stephen Mowlam.

But Michael McCann got a deflection on Russel Ford's cross for Australia's go-ahead goal and Elder took Australia to the break 3-1 ahead when he converted Australia's first penalty corner with a flick along the pitch which grazed the inside of the left post.

Matthew Naylor opened the scoring in the second-half, latching on to a Robbie Hammond cross to slap into an empty net with just 13 minutes played.

Travis Brooks flicked over Paul Woodford from close range for Australia's fifth goal, Jamie Dwyer added the sixth and Luke Doerner converted a penalty corner for the seventh.

“Giving up a goal in the first two minutes is a coach's nightmare and Australia had the measure of us as we could not cover the ground in the midfield,” said New Zealand coach Kevin Towns.

Australia coach Barry Dancer said the scoreline could have been different had the New Zealanders not been so goal-shy.

“We were poor in defence today and if New Zealand had scored from the shots they had on goal it would have been a very different scoreline,” said Dancer.

“Our defence needs to be tighter and our penalty corner conversion rate needs to improve so we have work to do in the coming days before the semi-finals.”

Argentina wilted against Japan after its 1-0 victory over Pakistan on Monday. Akira Ito scored an early field goal for Japan. Matias Vila pulled one back for the South Americans with a field goal and then deflected in his team's fourth penalty corner to take a 2-1 lead into the break.

Kazuyuki Ozawa equalised for Japan and Lucas Cammareri backsticked in a penalty corner rebound for the go-ahead third goal for Argentina.

Japan came back in the last 10 minutes with goals to Hiroki Sakamoto and a second goal to Ito, both scoring from rebounds at penalty corners.

“I am content that the team took its first win today,” said Japan's coach Akira Takahashi.

“We have technical deficiencies in the team and we try to make up for that running very hard and fast,” Takahashi added.

Earlier, on Monday, favourites the Netherlands defeated England 4-3 but their semi-final berth rests on the outcome of other teams' results. The Dutch must beat India in its last pool match Tuesday and hope Germany falters against South Africa or South Korea to be able to make the semi finals.

James Tindall scored two field goals and Richard Mantell a sizzling penalty corner conversion for England's three goals.

Teun de Nooijer and Ronald Brouwer scored field goals for Netherlands, who wrapped up the game thanks to two penalty corner goals by Taeke Taekema.

Wednesday’s fixtures (all times PST):

Japan v Spain at 5.00pm; South Korea v Germany at 7.20pm; South Africa v England at 9.30pm; Australia v Pakistan at 11.30pm.—AFP