Kookaburras to face the Dutch in the final

The Australian Men's Hockey team will enter tomorrow's Champions Trophy final against the Netherlands on the back of a 3-all draw with Pakistan in the final round-robin match overnight.

In a game that failed to reach any great heights, the bottom-placed Pakistanis proved to be the Kookaburras most frustrating and challenging opponent of the tournament, preventing the Australians from securing five successive wins in the Champions Trophy.

Following a lifeless first 30 minutes, Australia broke the deadlock first, before Pakistan equalised minutes before half time.

Both teams slugged it out in a fairly monotonous second half, registering two goals apiece and finished splitting the points.

The Kookaburras ended the tournament undefeated with four wins and a draw for 13 points, followed by the Netherlands (10), Spain (9), Germany (5), India (3) and Pakistan (1).

The Dutch secured a berth with Australia in the final following a 2-1 final-round victory over host nation India.

The Kookaburras will be chasing their eighth Champions Trophy title, while the Netherlands will be aiming for their third in four years and their eighth overall also.

Entering the match already assured with a position in the final, Australia played with far less conviction, with the bottom-placed Pakistanis matching them in a fairly sluggish opening.

Both teams had very few scoring opportunities in the first half-an-hour in a game shaping up as a lack-luster affair.

Luke Doerner broke the deadlock for the Kookaburras four minutes before half time after successfully converting from a penalty corner, while Pakistan broke straight back a minute from the break through Muhammad Imran.

While the match was being played at a slow pace, the Pakistanis stunned the Australians early in the second half when Rehan Butt slammed his team in the lead, picking up a rebound to slam it past goalkeeper Stephen Lambert.

Pakistan continued to attack, creating several scoring opportunities, while the Kookaburras were still unable to find an equaliser entering the final 20 minutes.

However, a rebounding play from a penalty corner in the 55th minute was enough for Australian Matt Naylor to level the scores.

Less than two minutes later, Matthew Wells hoisted the Kookaburras into the lead after converting from a penalty corner.

Inside the final 10 minutes, Mudassar Khan, who had worked hard all match, earned himself a reward and his team a point with his equalising goal from a superb strike in the field, finding the back of the net.

Australia and the Netherlands will battle it out for the 27th Champions Trophy title tomorrow evening, while Spain and Germany will battle for the bronze medal.

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