Australia beat Germany to stay perfect in Champions Trophy

MOENCHENGLADBACH (Germany): Australia earned its fourth straight win at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament by beating Germany 3-1 Thursday, securing the group win and leaving the Germans needing a victory in their last game to secure a final berth.

Australia had already earned a spot in Sunday’s final but rallied from a 1-0 deficit to stay on course to become the first team in nine years to win all five group matches. Germany last achieved the feat in 2001.

Earlier, England eliminated the Netherlands with a 4-3 win, and Spain produced a last-minute penalty corner goal to draw with New Zealand 4-4 in a wild game.

In the marquee matchup of the day, Martin Haner gave Germany the lead from a penalty corner with his third goal of the tournament, but Desmond Abbott responded with two goals for Australia before Jamie Dwyer added the third. It was Dwyer’s 17th career Champions Trophy goal and third of the tournament.

Australia has 12 points after four games, with Germany stuck on six ahead of its last game against the Netherlands on Saturday. Spain has five points, with England and New Zealand on four and the Dutch last with three.

England had lost all five previous trophy games against the Netherlands since 1981, but came from 3-2 down at halftime for its maiden win and first in four games at this year’s tournament.

The Dutch risk missing the top four for the first time since 1986.

Richard Alexander opened and closed the scoring, the last with seven minutes to go, while Simon Mantell and Jonty Clarke also scored for England. Rogier Hofman, Jeroen Hertzberger and Mink van der Weerden all scored for the Netherlands in the first 29 minutes.

New Zealand twice came back to tie with Spain then led 4-2. But Spain scored a minute later and Miguel Delas claimed the last equalizer.

Spain went ahead twice in the first half through David Alegre’s penalty corner and captain Santi Freixa’s field goal, but New Zealand rallied each time, thanks to Nicholas Wilson, and seconds before halftime, Simon Child.

Captain Phillip Burrows and Steven Edwards scored 10 minutes apart, giving hope to the Black Sticks of a first major win over Spain since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, however Ramon Alegre deflected in Pau Quemada’s corner and Delas finished off.