BUDERIM (Australia), Sept 17: Australian men’s field hockey team guaranteed themselves a place at next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing with a 3-1 defeat of New Zealand on Sunday at the Oceania qualifying tournament.

In the women’s final, New Zealand avenged the loss by the men’s team, defeating Australia, 1-0, but both teams qualified for the 2008 Summer Games in China.

The searing mid-afternoon heat slowed the pace of play in the men’s finals, as compared with Friday’s night frenetic encounter, won by Australia 2-1.

Australia scored first as David Guest converted a penalty corner with a powerful flick high into the right of the net.

David Kosoof replied for New Zealand two minutes before the break, scoring from a cross from the left by Phillip Burrows with a diving backstick shot.

Bevan George deflected in a penalty corner for the go-ahead goal three minutes into the second half, and Travis Brooks took a long pass from the midfield to beat New Zealand’s goal-keeper Paul Woodford from the far right of the circle in the 59th minute to seal the victory.

New Zealand must now win an Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland in the first week of February — against India, Egypt, Ireland, Netherlands Antilles and the US — to get to play in Beijing.

In the women’s final, New Zealand sealed victory over Australia in the 54th minute with a goal by Krystal Forgesson.

In the classification match, Fiji took third place, winning 6-0 over Papua New Guinea.—AFP