Aussies break German wall to win hockey World Cup

NEW DELHI: Power-packed Australia proved third time lucky as they won the hockey World Cup after a 24 year hiatus with a 2-1 win over defending champions Germany on Saturday.

Luke Doerner scored the winning penalty corner 11 minutes from the end after Edward Ockenden had put the Kookaburras ahead in the sixth minute and Moritz Furste drew level for Germany in the 48th.

Doerner’s eighth goal in the tournament made him the joint leading scorer with another penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema of the Netherlands.

Australia, whose previous World Cup title came way back in 1986, had lost the last two finals against Germany in 2002 and 2006.

The Germans, hoping to become the first team in history to bag a hat-trick of titles to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal two years ago, were outpaced by the speedy Australians.

Kookaburras’ legendary coach Ric Charlesworth watched the final from the stands behind the goal, rather than on the bench, just as he had done in the semi-final against the Netherlands.

Charlesworth, who was part of Australia’s Cup winning squad in 1986, became only the second man after Dutchman Hans Jorritsma to win the World Cup both as a player and coach.

“I am too noisy and too excited on the bench, so I preferred to be calm in the stands,” said Charlesworth. “There was nothing superstitious about it.

“I am very, very pleased. We played a good game with a lot of control and authority. Scoring that early goal was very helpful.

“I am pleased to win both as player and captain. In 1986, the scoreline was the same, but the opponents (England) were different.

“The next goal now is the London Olympics.”

German captain Max Muller said the penalty corners proved decisive.

“We too got one in the end, but could not score,” he said. “We are a young side and maybe got overawed by the occasion.

“Today we are disappointed, but when we think of it tomorrow morning, we will be pleased we reached the final.”

The Netherlands, meanwhile, gave veteran goalkeeper Guus Vogels a retirement present by winning the bronze medal with a 4-3 win over England earlier on Saturday.