The rebuilding Kookaburras have pulled off an upset 4-2 FIH Professional League males’s hockey win over the Netherlands of their Olympic quarterfinal rematch at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday.
Jake Harvie scored within the first half for the Aussies earlier than a penalty flick from Davis Atkin and a spectacular purpose from Cooper Burns helped the hosts to a 3-0 lead. over the world’s primary facet.
Miles Bukkens and Tjep Hoedemakers lowered the deficit with objectives both facet of the ultimate break, earlier than Ky Willott discovered the again of the online to kill off the guests’ second-half problem.
The match comes 5 months after the Netherlands knocked the Kookaburras out of the Paris Video games with a 2-0 quarterfinal win.
Australia’s Olympics crash-out to the eventual champions triggered a squad upheaval, with former Kookaburras captain Mark Hager changing long-time coach Colin Batch.
Hager named solely 9 of the 22-man Paris squad for the Professional League stage in Sydney and referred to as up eight debutants for his or her opening match towards Spain on Wednesday.
Regardless of a 2-1 loss to the Spaniards, Hager opted towards altering his facet for his or her Netherlands match.
Australia discovered the opener due to a foul by Joep de Mol on Willott, with the Netherlands conceding a penalty nook.
The nook shot by newly-blooded Tom Harvie hit the foot of an opposition defender in a congested passage of play, leading to a penalty stroke.
Harvie’s older brother Jake, who performed within the Olympics quarterfinal loss alongside Willott, stood as much as take the penalty and simply transformed.
Atkin then hit the scoreboard with a half-volley after an excellent long-distance go from Corey Weyer.
The Netherlands had been adamant Atkin didn’t have a transparent touchdown zone to obtain Weyer’s go, however the purpose stood after a overview.
Burns’s purpose additionally survived a overview, initially believed to have used the improper facet of the stick to attain.
