Champions Trophy Hockey: Australia rebound to beat Spain 3-2

Michelle Payne December 3, 2011 0

Champions Trophy Hockey: Australia rebound to beat Spain 3-2

AUCKLAND: The Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament got off to a sizzling start here Saturday when defending champions Australia struck two late goals to defeat Spain in their first match of the competition here in Auckland.

Spain were winning the match 2-1 with only five minutes left in the game but Aussie skipper Jamie Dwyer led from the front as he came up with the inspirational goal that urged Desmond Abbott to collect a partial clearance from a penalty corner to strike the winning goal in the dying moments of the match. Aussie skipper Jamie Dwyer scored two goals in the match.

The game was more highlighted for brilliant goal-keeping by persons in the goals at both ends as Aussie keeper Andrew Charter and his Spanish counterpart Francisco Cortes blocked a number of challenging efforts right from the start.

However, it was Australia who took the early lead when Jamie Dwyer scored in the 10^th minute. Spain then escalated the pressure on Aussies and struck two blows, one each from Jorge Gabriel Dabanch and Eduard Tubau, just at the stroke of half time thus leading the defending champions by 2-1 at halfway stage.

Kookaburras then were buoyed by a late goal by the skipper before Abbott completed an emphatic victory.

It is important to mention here that the Kookaburras are looking to win a record fourth Champions Trophy Hockey title in a row and now they face Great Britain in their next match on Sunday which would be a repeat of the 2010 final in Germany where Aussies had completed hat-tricks of their CT titles.