Beijing, Aug 21 (UNI) On a day that saw many unexpected results, Spain stunned
defending Champions Australia 3-2, while Germany knocked out Holland 5-4 in a
sudden death penalty shoot out to set up a summit clash in the Olympic hockey
competition here tonight.
Spain came back strongly from a two-goal deficit to make the final of the
men's hockey tournament with a 3-2 victory over Athens Olympic champions
Australia.
Australians were looking to run away with the match as the Athens Olympics'
champions did not take much of time and opened the scoring in the very first
minute.
Des Abbott flicked a cross by Travis Brooks across the goal line to give
Australia a 1-0 lead in the first half.
Australia increased the goal difference just two minutes into the second half
when 21-year old striker Eddie Ockenden dropped a pass by Abbott into an empty
Spanish goal in the 37th minute.
But Spain battled their way in the match as two minutes later, Eduard Tubau
flicked a rebound over the Australian goalie, pulling the Spaniards back into
the match.
Tubau levelled the scores with a flick in the 44th minute before Santiago
Freixa scored the winner from a penalty corner in the dying moments of the
match.
Earlier in the day, in a tense encounter, World Champion Germany stroked out
arch rival Holland 5-4 in a sudden death shootout to book a place in the
finals.
Ironically, the man responsible for Dutch defeat was their hero Taeke Taekema
who missed the crucial first sudden death penalty stroke to see Germany take
place for the summit meet following an epic battle in the first semi-finals.
It was all square at 1-1 till the scheduled 70 minutes of play and later
during the extra 15 minutes of action. Even the five penalty strokes given to
each team produced the same result with both teams scoring three times each.
When it came to sudden death penalty strokes, Germany scored through
experienced Christopher Zeller while Taekema's high scoop deflected over the
bar by German goalkeeper Max Weinhold to the jubilation and delight of the
German players and fans.
In an edge of the seat encounter, Germany had an edge in the initial stages.
Holland however, fought back well and produced stunning stuff late in the
second half.
In the process they earned their second penalty corners.
Taekema's bullet push was deflected in the net by Timme Hoyng for the opening
goal of the match in 66th minute.
Netherlands coach Roelant Oltmans had hardly settled down from jumping with
joy at the sideline when Germany pulled back the equaliser through Philipp
Zeller who was standing unmarked at the goalmouth.
Even the two halves of the extra time did not produce any results and both
teams were awarded five penalty strokes each.
Taekema, Ronald Brouwer and Nooijer Teun scored for Holland while Germany
netted penalty strokes through Christopher Zeller, Niklas Meinert and Tibor
Weissenborn.
Rob Reckers and Weusthof's strokes were saved well by the German keeper while
Keller and Philip Zeller missed opportunities for Germany to score goals on
penalty strokes.
Germany and Spain will fight for gold and Australia will take on Holland for
bronze on Saturday.
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