Australia reach final with triumph over The Netherlands
Pool C – Netherlands 2-4 Australia

World number one side Australia have reached the final of the Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy with a game to spare thanks to a fine display against the Netherlands. The Kookaburras, who have won the past three Champions Trophy tournaments, were is ruthless goal-scoring form with Chris Ciriello, Matt Gohdes (2) and his cousin Jamie Dwyer gave Australia a 4-2 win over the Dutch.

As you would expect from two of the world’s most exciting, attack minded hockey teams, it was a fascinating match with plenty of action in both circles. Australia were certainly the dominant force in the first half, and could easily have scored early were it not for some superb goalkeeping from Jaap Stockmann who made great saves from Chris Ciriello and Jason Wilson.

In the 26^th minute, The Netherlands were awarded a penalty corner, but all time Champions Trophy top scorer Taeke Taekema was denied the chance to shine thanks to a smart video referral from the Kookaburras. Australia went to the video umpire again three minutes later when they believed they had seen an infringement in the Netherlands circle. Video umpire Gareth Greenfield agreed with Australia, and Chris Ciriello put away the penalty corner at the second time of asking to make the score 1-0.

Australia were given a warning early in the second half when Taekema sent a penalty corner fractionally wide of the target before The Netherlands pulled themselves level in the 47^th minute thanks to a stunning reverse stick shot from FIH Young Player of the Year candidate Billy Bakker.

Incredibly, Australia hit back three minutes later when Matt Gohdes – cousin of four time FIH Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer – bundled home a penalty corner before making the score 3-1 with a blistering volley nine minutes from the end of the game.

Dwyer himself ensured that it was a family affair when he got his name on the score-sheet with a piece of individual brilliance in the 64^th minute. Receiving an overhead pass down the right, Dwyer accelerated into the circle, moved his body around the ball before spectacularly crashing the ball high into the Netherlands goal to give his team a 4-1 lead.

The Netherlands scored a consolation goal in the final minute when Valentin Verga finished well after great work from Bakker, but it was Australia who took all the point s and confirmed their place in yet another Champions Trophy final.    

Australia - Netherlands 4-2 - Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011

> Australia qualify for a Champions Trophy final match for a record 13th time and are well on their way to become the first team to win four successive Champions Trophy titles.
> Australia have now won their last 4 CT encounters with the Dutch and are unbeaten in their last 8 against them.
> Jamie Dwyer netted his 7th goal of the tournament. The last CT top scorer to net at least 7 goals was Florian Keller (GER, 7) in 2008.
> Dwyer is now on 25 CT career goals. Only Australians to have scored more CT goals are Mark Hager (32) and Stephen Davies (28).
> Matt Gohdes scored twice in this match to lift his tournament total to three.
> Gohdes 2nd goal and Australia’s third of the match marked Australia’s 500th CT goal.
> Billy Bakker has scored in all 4 matches for NED at Auckland 2011.
> Valentin Verga scored his first CT career goal.
> Netherlands failed to score from 4 penalty corners awarded in this match and are now on 2 for 15 at Auckland 2011.
> Australia converted 2 of 5 PCs today. They are now on 5 for 19 for the tournament.
> Australia are yet to concede a penalty corner goal (12 PCs have been awarded to their opponents).

Australia - Netherlands (8 Dec 2011, 16:05) - Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011

Head-to-heads

> Australia have won 19 of their 32 CT matches against the Netherlands (19W – 4D – 9L).
> Australia have won their last 3 CT encounters with the Dutch and are unbeaten in their last 7  against them since losing 4-2 in the 2003 CT final.
> Australia’s biggest CT win over the Netherlands came in 2009 (7-2).
> Holland’s biggest CT victory over the Kookaburras dates back to 2002 (6-1).
> At last year’s CT, Australia beat Holland 6-3 by scoring 4 goals in the last 8 minutes of the match.

Australia Facts

> Australia need to score 3 more goals to become the first team to accumulate 500 Champions Trophy goals. Opponents Netherlands are on 483 CT goals.
> Australia carry over 3 point from Pool A from their 3-2 win over Spain in the opening match of the tournament. Australia are the only team to have won all 3 of their pool matches.
> The Kookaburras will secure a final berth if they beat the Netherlands.
> Australia are ranked 1st in the world. They are the reigning Champions Trophy and World champions.
> Australia aim to become the first team to win four successive Champions Trophy titles.
> Jamie Dwyer tops the goalscorer list after Day 3 on 6 goals (all from open play).
> Dwyer can join four players who have scored at least 10 goals in a single CT tournament: Paul Litjens (NED) 15 in 1980 and 11 in 1981, Wolfgang Strödter (GER) 12 in 1980, Florian Kunz (GER) 10 in 2001 and Jorge Lombi (ARG) 10 in 2003.
> Dwyer is now on 24 CT career goals. Only Australians to have scored more CT goals are Mark Hager (32) and Stephen Davies (28).
> Australia are on 13 goals after Day 3. Only Spain have scored more (14).
> The Kookaburras have converted 3 of 14 penalty corners awarded (21%)
> Australia are yet to concede a penalty corner goal (8 PCs have been awarded to their opponents).
> Australia have conceded fewest goals (4) after 3 matches.
> Jamie Dwyer and Eddie Ockenden are nominated for Men’s FIH Player of the Year. Matthew Swann is on the shortlist for Young Player of the Year.

Netherlands Facts

> The Dutch have finished in the top 4 in each of their last 24 CT tournaments (including 2011), since finishing 6th in 1986.
> Netherlands are on 2 for 11 in terms of penalty corners converted (18%).
> They are the only team that has not had any penalty corners awarded against them.
> Netherlands (0 for 0) and Germany (0 for 15) have not conceded any penalty corner goals yet, coming into Day 4.
> Billy Bakker has scored in every match so far for his team at Auckland 2011 (3 FG), as have Gabriel Dabanch (ESP) and Jamie Dwyer (AUS).
> Rogier Hofman, Jeroen Hertzberger (2FG) and Taeke Taekema (2PC) are the other Dutch goalscorers.
> Taeke Taekema is all-time top goalscorer in CT competition on 47 goals. Teun de Nooijer is on 42 goals.