Beijing Aug. 21: World Cup champions Germany and Spain gatecrashed into the Olympic men’s field hockey final on Thursday after avenging the heartbreak at Athens four years ago. Spain fought back after being two goals down to upset reigning Olympic champions Australia 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final, Santi Freixa scoring the winner two minutes before the final whistle. Germany defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the other semi-final after the European heavyweights were locked 1-1 at the end of extra-time.
Spain had lost to Australia and Germany were beaten by the Dutch in the semi-finals at Athens, but defied the form book and pre-tournament predictions to set up an intriguing gold medal clash on Saturday. It will be Germany’s first final since winning the gold medal at Barcelona in 1992, while Spain will bid for their first Olympic title after losing the deciders in 1980 and 1996. Earlier, Germany rode on a rare error by Dutch sharpshooter Taeke Taekema in the penalty shoot-out to make their first Olympic final in 16 years. The shoot-out itself went into sudden death as both teams drew 3-3 after the first 10 strokes.
Veteran Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels, a four-time Olympian, said he was heartbroken to see his side go out in sudden death. “It is sad but I think we played the best we could. “We should have done it in 70 minutes of regulation time. But we gave it away in the end,” he said. Australia appeared to have sewn up the game when Des Abbott scored within 30 seconds of the start and Eddie Ockenden increased the margin early in the second half.