Australia overpower spirited Korea 4-2 to make it to final

Monchengladbach, Sep 15: Olympic champions Australia survived several anxious moments before overpowering a spirited Korea 4-2 to storm into the final of the Hockey World Cup here tonight.

For Australia, this is the second successive entry into the finals of the World Cup while for the Asian Games Gold Medallists the defeat meant they failed to get past the semi-final hurdle for the second time in a row.

The match saw the clash of two different brands of hockey.

While the Koreans adopted hit and run tactics the Aussies played a controlled and percentage game.

Korea led 1-0 at the breather.

Bevan George (38th), Travis Brooks (50th), Jamie Dwyer (60th) and Micheal McCann (70th) scored a goal each for the winners.

Jong Hyun Jang (31st) and Seong Jung Kang (42nd) got the goals for the losers.

The Koreans started aggressively making some incisive moves and they defended their own citadel against the rival's counter attacks. It turned out to be an absorbing tussle with the Aussies surprising everybody with their non-too-fast approach.

All the four Australian goals were classic in their style of execution as there was no power involved in them. The two goals coming off the penalty corners were just gentle taps which left the Korean non-plussed and other two bewildered them.

The Koreans did all the running while the Aussies made more counter attacks but could not get past the tough and sturdy rival defenders.

The Koreans forced three penalty corners in the first half while their opponents failed to get any. The Asian champions made their intentions clear when in the seventh minute they launched a well calculated attack. Jong Hyun Jong's long shot was intercepted by Hyo Sik You who cut through a couple of defenders but shot straight into the goalkeeper.

The Australians made two tearaway counter moves but both the times Nathan Eglington failed to beat goal keeper Dong Sik Ko, the second oldest player in the tournament after the Argentina goal keeper.

The Korean moves also created panic in the Australian defence as Jong Ho Lee set up Woon Kim Yeo who fumbled near the goal and shot wide. However, the Koreans forced their third penalty corner in the 31st minute and this time Jong Hyun Jang flicked the ball home (1-0).

Three minutes into the second half, Australia earned their first penalty corner. Instead of taking direct flick, Luke Doerner relayed the ball to skipper Bevan George who just tapped the ball home with a gentle push when the defenders and the goal keeper were expecting a hard crack (1-1). Four minutes later, Korea took the lead again. Seong Jung Kang made a good run down the right flank and sent the ball home with a superb minus shot (2-1).

Rattled by this goal, Australians went flat on attack and forced their second penalty corner. This time, Luke Doerner's flick was well saved by the goal keeper.

However, the Australians managed the equalizer in the 50th minute when off the fourth penalty corner, Troy Elders relayed the ball to Bevan George who set up Travis Brooks and he once again gently tapped the ball home (2-2).

After that there was no looking back for the Aussies and they scored their third goal in the 60th minute through Jamie Dwyer who deflected a Mark Knowles cross as the goal keeper charged out to surge ahead in the match for the first time (3-2).

Just before the hooter, Michael McCann surprised the Korean defence as he sent the ball into the cage to make it 4-2.

UNI