Australia hand Pakistan 6-1 drubbing in HWL Semi-Finals

Published June 25, 2015
Pakistan and Australia in action at the Hockey World League Semi-finals   — Photo courtesy FIH/ GRANT TREEBY
Pakistan and Australia in action at the Hockey World League Semi-finals — Photo courtesy FIH/ GRANT TREEBY

Australia handed Pakistan a 6-1 drubbing in their second match of the Hockey World League Semi-Finals on Wednesday, making the prospects of Rio 2016 much tougher for the Greenshirts.

The result puts the mighty Kookaburras onto six points in the Pool A, drawing alongside India and moving three clear of the famous Greenshirts.

As expected, the match was packed full of action and incredible skills, with Pakistan giving the world number 1 ranked team a real run for their money in the opening two quarters.

The Australians took the lead when Jacob Whetton finished off brilliant team move in the 9th minute, but five minutes later Pakistan restored parity thanks to a Mohammad Irfan penalty corner.

It was no more than the Greenshirts deserved, but the Australians stepped up their game considerably in the third quarter to establish a 3-1 lead thanks to Daniel Beale and Matthew Swann.

Legendary attacker Jamie Dwyer made the score 4-1 in the fourth quarter, with teenage sensation Blake Govers scoring Australia’s fifth and sixth goals with a penalty corner double.

“They played well earlier in the year so we knew it was going to be a fight, but it was nice to grind it away and get some goals in the second half,” said Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles after the match.

Pakistan will now take on India on June 26 in what promises to be a cracking encounter.

-FIH

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