Australia trounce New Zealand, first team to make it to semis

Monchengladbach, Sep 12 (UNI) Displaying awesome firepower, Olympic champion Australia pummeled New Zealand 7-1 to record the highest win of the tournament so far and became the first team to move into the semifinals of the hockey World Cup here today.

The Australians, winners of the 1986 World Cup at London, reduced their fourth league match to virtually a no-contest as they indulged in target practice.

For the winners, who led 3-1 at half time, the goal scorers were Jamie Dwyer (2nd, 63rd minutes), Michael McCann (26th), Troy Elders (32nd), Mathew Naylor (47th), Travis Brook (57th) and Luke Doerner ( 66th). For the losers, Mitesh Patel reduced the margin.

It was clearly the match which the Kiwis will like to forget.

They were just outplayed in all departments of the game and but for few good saves by their goalkeeper Paul Woolford, the margin of defeat would have been much bigger.

The Australians, who lost their first match to Spain, bounced back in the reckoning with impressive wins over Argentina, Japoan and New Zealand. They now play Pakistan in their last league assignment tomorrow.

Barring for the 15 minutes in the first session in which the Australians looked a bit relaxed, the Kiwis made few incisive moves in which they managed to equalised but once the Olympic Champions got back into their rhythm, that was the end of the road for the Kiwis.

Australia announced their intentions from the very start as they surged ahead into the lead in the second minute with Jamie Dwyer deflecting a ball home with a superb slide.

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