Image: Hockey Australia, video FIH
A Blake Govers double and a 3-1 scoreline has seen the Kookaburras derail what had looked a certain no-stops journey for the Dutch to the final of the 2018 Champions Trophy.
The home team had been turning in powerhouse performances to smash their opposition, including 6 goals against Belgium – which had drawn 3-3 with the Aussies.
As usual in its games in the tournament at Breda in the Netherlands, the Australians’ opposition scored first, with the Dutch notching one – and, as it turned out, their only one – in the second quarter.
Then it was all The Jake and Blake Show, with Jake Harvie getting one to take the Kookaburras to half-time at 1-1.
Then it was over to Blake Govers, with a goal in the third quarter before getting the match sealer from a penalty stroke conversion in the 4th.
Govers said after the game: “To be honest we haven’t done any research. We heard over the speaker that we had made the final, but we don’t really worry about numbers at this stage. We just win what we can win, you know. The Dutch at home would be another nice game, or India. To be honest it is such a good tournament it doesn’t matter (who we face).”
The Dutch will face India in their next match, with the winner to meet Australia in the final. Both have now been beaten by the Kookaburras, but the loss by the Dutch shows form is no guarantee of success.
The Kookaburras next play Argentina on Saturday, Netherlands time, followed by the final at 1600 local on Sunday.