Kookaburras Undefeated in Group Stage
The Kookaburras have finished the group stage of the Olympic hockey tournament undefeated after coming from behind to secure a three all draw with Great Britain on Tuesday night.
Australia’s draw secured second place behind The Netherlands in Group B and Barry Dancer’s side will now take on Group A winners Spain in the semi-finals on Thursday. The Netherlands will play 2006 World Cup winners Germany in the other semi-final.
Great Britain played their best match of the tournament to stretch the reigning Olympic champions, who were twice forced to come from behind to stay in the match.
For the Kookaburras West Australian Fergus Kavanagh earned his first start of the tournament, while Kiel Brown again came off the bench. Captain Bevan George managed to score just his 12th goal in more than 200 internationals.
It was the Brits who opened the scoring just before half time after 30 minutes of scoreless hockey.
Australia hit back after the break though, scoring two goals in five minutes. George scored the first after a penalty corner variation fortuitously saw the ball fall in front of him and the veteran casually flicked it over the goalkeeper to make it one all.
Jamie Dwyer then scored the Kookaburras’ second to secure a 2-1 lead.
It didn’t take long for Great Britain to tie it up at two all though, with a penalty corner conversion two minutes after Dwyer’s strike.
They hit then hit the lead with 15 minutes to play with a field goal to Rob Moore as it looked like Great Britain were going to secure a famous victory.
Luckily for the Kookaburras young gun Eddie Ockenden came to the rescue with a clever field goal two minutes from full time to see the final scoreline read 3-3.