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NEW DELHI Luke Doerner and Jason Wilon slammed two goals each as power-packed Australia wiped out India 8-0 to win their fourth successive Commonwealth Games men's field hockey gold here on Thursday.
The world champions dominated the home team right through the lop-sided final played before a packed crowd at the sun-baked Major Dhyan Chand stadium.
The Aussies have now finished on top in each edition of the Games since the sport was introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
The victory also completed an unprecedented hat-trick of winning the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth gold in the same year for Ric Charlesworth's men.
Also, it was the second time in a year that Australia crowned themselves with glory here, after having won the World Cup at the same venue in March.
Australian captain Jamie Dwyer said the conditions played a big part in the final outcome of the match.
“They had not played in this heat before in the tournament,” he said. “They played all their games in the evening when it is at least cooler by 15 degrees.
I think that made a huge difference.
“The match was probably closer than the scoreline reflects. We are thrilled to go home with the gold in our kitty.”
For the Indians, who have not won a major tournament since their Asian Games gold in 1998, it was their first podium finish in the Games.
While the Aussies hugged each other in joy, the sombre Indian players went on a lap of the ground to show their gratitude to the patient crowd with a banner reading “Thank you all for your kind support”.
Doerner finished the tournament as the highest scorer with eight goals.
“The Indians were in great form leading into the final,” said Doerner. “So it is flattering to win by such a scoreline. They were unlucky not to score but probably they were tired after played two tough games (against Pakistan and England).
“I don't think the gap (in quality) between the two teams is big. Sometimes people put too much emphasis on the scoreline.”
The first-half saw a keen tussle between the teams to control the ball but it was the Aussies who surged into the lead in the 19th minute with Jason Wilson hammering one in
from the left of the box.
The Aussies made it 2-0 two minutes later through Chris Ciriello before Wilson scored his second goal and Doerner slammed in his double in the 34th and 52nd minutes.
Simon Orchard made it 6-0 while Dwyer and Glenn Turner also joined in the goal-fest to cap a miserable outing for the hosts, ranked number nine in the world.
The Indians seemed to have no answers to the Australian assault and hardly threatened their defence.
“We played the first 15 minutes well but after that they struck two goals and we came under pressure,” said India's Arjun Halappa. “We started making one mistake after another. Our finishing was also poor.
“They never allowed us to come back into the match.” —AFP
