Kookaburras Lose 3-2 to Germany in Test Event

The Kookaburras will need to avoid defeat against Great Britain on Saturday if they are to reach the final of the London Test event after they lost 3-2 to Germany in London.

While even a lacklustre performance on the opening day was enough to dispatch India, Germany was a different proposition and although the Kookaburras provided a bit more sparkle, they were unable to record a victory over the world’s second-ranked team.

“We let ourselves down in the first half, we didn’t keep possession well enough and that allowed them to dictate,” said assistant coach Graham Reid.

Reid was not entirely unhappy with the defeat, suggesting that it provided the all-conquering Kookaburras with a healthy reality check.

“It was a good test for us because it is very easy for teams to get ahead of themselves but we know there is much work to do ahead of the Olympics,” he said.

“In the first half we were tentative but the second half was much better. We just didn’t take our chances.”

The game started well enough for the Kookaburras when Russell Ford shot home his second goal of the tournament, converting in the 12th minute after Eddie Ockenden pounced on a German turnover.

However, it was soon Nathan Burgers who was the busier of the goalkeepers as Germany’s mixture of slick passing and patient build-up on a tricky pitch began to pay dividends.

The equaliser came when a free-hit was nicked in by Moritz Fürste despite Australian claims for a stick check and the subsequent rejection of their video referral.

Five minutes before the break, Germany went ahead through a reverse-stick shot from Florian Fuchs.

It was the Kookaburras who opened the second half the brighter but Rob Hammond shot wide and then Luke Doerner misfired from a penalty corner.

With four minutes remaining, coach Ric Charlesworth decided to substitute goalkeeper Burgers and play with 11 outfield men.

Doerner had the unenviable job of guarding the back line, a task made even less attractive when the Kookaburras conceded a penalty corner.

The Germans duly converted through Christoph Zeller.

However, the experiment proved more worthwhile at the other end of the pitch when Matt Gohdes set up Ockenden for Australia’s second goal just 15 seconds from time.

“It was an opportunity to practice playing without a goalkeeper with mixed results,” said Reid.

“We tried it against Japan and China in games earlier in the year but they didn’t force a corner.

Overall it was a good test for us against a quality team and hopefully we will get another chance to play them in the final.”

Whether that happens depends on Saturday’s clash with hosts Great Britain who beat the inconsistent Indians 4-2.

Germany, who plays India in their last pool game, are already in the final after they beat Britain in their first match.

– Hockey Australia