TOKYO: Australia won their third straight match in the men’s hockey tournament at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday after putting five goals past reigning Olympic champions Argentina, while Germany also scored five to overpower Britain.

Belgium’s Red Lions brushed aside South Africa, winning 9-4, while the Netherlands beat Canada 4-2, hosts Japan earned their first point of the tournament with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand and India defeated Spain 3-0.

Australia’s ‘Kookaburras’ went behind against Argentina in the fourth minute as the match got underway in rainy conditions but had scored four goals by halftime and went on to win 5-2.

Australia drew level with less than a minute to go until the end of the opening quarter when forward Blake Govers scored a penalty corner, confirming his reputation as a penalty corner specialist.

That was followed by three more goals in the second quarter and one after the break, giving Australia — who beat Japan 5-3 and India 7-1 in their first two games — the maximum nine points from three matches.

Also in the men’s competition, Belgium thrashed South Africa, with seven goals scored by the halftime break, booking their third straight win.

The Netherlands stayed on course to book a place in the quarter-finals with their win over Canada, putting them in third position in their group behind Belgium and Germany. The Germans handed Britain their first defeat of the tournament, winning 5-1, including three goals by attacker Florian Fuchs.

India secured their second victory at the tournament with a double from defender Rupinder Pal Singh, though the game was closer than the scoreline suggests.

Published in Dawn, July 28th , 2021