What was expected to be a keen tussle between the trans-Tasman rivals fizzled out into a one-sided encounter after Australia took a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time.
It was Australia’s second win over the Kiwis in the competition, having convincingly won the league match 6-1.
The Aussies, kept at bay for the first 20 minutes by the brilliant New Zealand goalkeeper Paul Woolford, responded with four quick strikes in the space of 12 minutes.
Troy Elder opened the scoring with a stinging shot from the top of the circle that beat Woolford’s outstretched right pad.
Australia had their second goal in the 25th minute when Michael McCann broke through on the left flank and Dwyer dived in front to push in a cross.
Three minutes later, Craig Victory deflected a penalty corner shot to make it 3-0 with his eighth goal in the competition.
Dwyer’s second goal just before half time, beating an advancing Woolford from the top of the circle, ensured Australia were well in command at the break.
Phillip Burrows pulled one back for New Zealand 10 minutes into the second half, but the Kiwis were reduced to 10 men when Ryan Archibald was sent off for a stick-check on Victory.
Sensing another opening, Australia pressed on the pedal and were rewarded with their fifth goal when Dwyer beat Woolford with a powerful shot from close range to achieve the hat-trick.
It was Australia’s turn to be one man short on the field as McCann was booked for a rough tackle on Dion Gosling 15 minutes from the end.
Assured of victory, Australia brought in reserve goalkeeper Stephen Lambert for the last five minutes, only to see him face a penalty stroke after a goal-mouth melee.
Hayden Shaw cooly pushed home to emerge the competition’s leading scorer with 13 goals, but New Zealand missed his penalty corner conversions in the final.
Australia, who finished second behind Germany at the World Cup in Malaysia in March, will now prepare for the elite six-nation Champions Trophy to be played in the German city of Cologne at the end of the month.
PAKISTAN WIN BRONZE
Penalty corner ace Sohail Abbas slammed five goals as Pakistan demolished South Africa 10-2 to win the bronze medal.
Pakistan, stung by the 7-1 defeat by New Zealand in the semi-finals, hit back to gain a consolation victory after starting the tournament as co-favourites with reigning champions Australia.
Australia take on the Kiwis for the gold medal later in the day.
Abbas’ lightening pushes at penalty corners fetched him three goals in the first half and two in the second to take his tally in the tournament to nine.
Abbas, who was troubled with a shoulder injury that required treatment during the match, missed his chance to grab a sixth when his 68th minute penalty stroke smashed against the crossbar.
It took his tally of international goals to 171 and made him the second highest scorer in the Games behind Shaw with nine goals.
Pakistan scored twice in as many minutes to take a 2-0 lead by the first quarter, before South Africa hit back to draw level through Gregg Clark and Emile Smith.
Abbas, however, netted twice late in the first half as Pakistan crossed over with a comfortable 4-2 lead.
South Africa were reduced to watching Pakistan’s awesome strike power in the second half which produced six goals.
Abbas struck twice and Muhammad Nadeem scored his second goal, while Mudassar Khan, Kashif Jawad and Ghazanfar Ali added to the tally.—AFP/Reuters
APP adds: Pakistan manager Col Zafar Ali Khan expressed optimism that his team had firmly put the New Zealand nightmare behind them and was looking forward to this month’s Champions Trophy.
“We will put in twice as much effort at Cologne as we would have done in normal circumstances there,” the former Olympian said.
Coach Tahir Zaman felt the team needed to strengthen and tighten the defence as the Pakistanis were good in attack.
“This paid dividends in the match against South Africa and in the earlier games before the defeat by New Zealand,” he said.
He hoped the team will continue on this pattern and recover its pride in the Champions Trophy at Cologne.
Australia 5 New Zealand 2
Pakistan 10 South Africa 2