Kookaburras Edged in Dramatic Azlan Sultan Shah Final

Mark Knowles’ dramatic last minute equaliser from the penalty spot was ultimately not enough as the Kookaburras went down 3-1 to New Zealand in a shoot-out after the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final ended 2-2 in regulation time.

While the Black Sticks successfully converted three of their four attempts, Jake Whetton was the Kookaburras’ only shoot-out scorer as Daniel Beale was denied by a superb double save and Eddie Ockenden and WAIS athlete Aran Zalewski narrowly missed.

It was a typically even trans-Tasman clash that finished in nail-biting fashion. Trailing to Andy Hayward’s early penalty corner goal, Jamie Dwyer levelled for the Kookaburras with ten minutes remaining only for Hayward to strike again two minutes from full time. But as Australia threw everything at the Black Sticks’ circle, Dylan Wotherspoon’s goal-bound shot was blocked on the line by the body of a New Zealand defender and Knowles coolly slipped the resulting penalty stroke inside the post to force the shoot-out.

Kookaburas coach Graham Reid said afterwards, “I thought we pressed very well but at the end of the day they got a corner, a soft corner. We had lots of opportunities but we didn’t put them away. That’s what hockey’s about – capitalizing on those opportunities. We didn’t do that today.”

Acknowledging the work still to be done as the team builds towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying campaign, Reid added, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint but we need to take all those lessons on board. We just need to work harder and harder back in Perth.”

Paying tribute to New Zealand and the role of all three goalkeepers in the match, he added, “That’s standard New Zealand. Their goalkeeper played really well. We hit him, of course, but he also had some saves. Our goalies did pretty well as well. It was one of those games.”

The Kookaburras found themselves up against an immovable object in the form of New Zealand goalkeeper Devon Manchester, who pulled off a string of saves during the contest to deny Australia time and time again. Glenn Simpson saw a penalty corner tipped round the post while Wotherspoon and Dwyer were both thwarted in the third quarter. Even Dwyer’s goal – deflected in the middle of the circle – was almost kept out but for a bounce off Manchester’s pads, albeit with Jake Whetton in close attendance ready for the rebound.

The goal was Dwyer’s eighth of the tournament, earning him the tournament top scorer award at the end of the week in which he became Australia’s outright most capped hockey player ever.

At the other end, both Leon Hayward and WAIS athlete Tristan Clemons, rotating in goal for the Kookaburras, were called upon on several occasions as New Zealand matched Australia’s high tempo attacking flair.

Dwyer’s goal had the match heading for a shoot-out before Hayward looked to have secured the title for New Zealand with a dragflick that flew inside the right-hand post.

With nothing to lose the Kookaburras replaced goalkeeper Clemons with a kicking-back, Mark Knowles accepting the flouro bib and goalkeeping privileges. But it was at the other end where he would make his impact, successfully beating Manchester from the spot after Wotherspoon’s shot was blocked.

Playing in his 50th game for Australia, Daniel Beale saw Manchester deny him twice within the eight seconds of the shoot-out, first with his left glove, then his left foot, after Hugo Inglis had scored for New Zealand. Blair Hilton then scored before Jake Whetton got the Kookaburras going. Ryan Archibald threaded his shot down the middle but Eddie Ockenden failed to hit the target after being forced wide. Tristan Clemons gave Australia hope as he dived to steal the ball from Simon Child but Aran Zalewski then hit the side netting.

As well as Aran Zalewski and Tristan Clemons, WAIS also had scholarship holder Trent Mitton involved in the final for Australia.

The two sides will meet again in early May in Hobart as the Kookaburras host New Zealand, Pakistan and Korea in a series of matches to prepare for June’s Olympic Games qualifying tournament, the World League Semi Final.

-HockeyAus