The Kookaburras have gotten off to a dream begin in 2024, kickstarting their run into July’s Paris Olympics with a close to excellent opening tour in India.
Beating their FIH Professional League opponents in seven matches out of eight, it took the highest ranked Netherlands till the ultimate match to lastly beat Australia, 5-3.
Previous to the tour, Kookaburras coach Colin Batch stated, “it’s not nearly scoring nicely in India, it’s about getting ready nicely on tour and performing simply as we count on to in Paris in July.”
Now, the Kookaburras and their big assist crew are celebrating a close to excellent run in India, with improved cohesive performances, gritty come-from-behind wins and loads of crew, and particular person, moments which confirmed why they’re among the finest groups on this planet.
“If we predict again two weeks in the past once we began, there’s been a lot studying, a lot development and it’s been heaps of enjoyable,” Aran Zalewski stated post-match.
“It’s been an excellent journey, there’s been rather a lot to love concerning the hockey we’ve performed I feel and sadly tonight we didn’t get to complete on an excellent be aware however I’m positive we are able to be taught from that as nicely.”
Tonight, the Kookaburras ran out to face desk toppers the Netherlands to battle it out for high spot on the standings, lower than 24 hours after beating hosts India in an exciting penalty shootout encounter.
Early on, Australia was enjoying like they have been the primary crew, with loads of photographs on track and inside six minutes they have been on the board by way of a clear, highly effective subject purpose by Jacob Anderson.
The Kookaburras carried that momentum and gave the impression to be in management till they have been a person down and Duco Telgenskamp unleashed, scoring a double earlier than half time.
Down 2-1 heading into the third quarter the Kookaburras had an opportunity to stage, however the Dutch rapidly bagged two extra and out of the blue Australia have been down 4-1.
Regardless of having misplaced all the momentum, it was not over, the Kookaburras had pulled off many comebacks in earlier video games and proper after they wanted to most, Tim Model answered again with one other unimaginable purpose, arrange by Tom Craig.
The Netherlands rapidly made it 5-2 till Jeremy Hayward, who has had a event to recollect, as soon as once more discovered the again of the online and it appeared Australia might need a combating likelihood.
But it surely was all slightly too late because the Kookaburras have been compelled to chalk their first loss earlier than they pack their baggage and head again dwelling to Perth.
“I feel tonight we didn’t get to play the model of hockey that we’ve been enjoying over the past 7 matches, we gave the Dutch too many alternatives… permitting 5 objectives might be going to make it tough in any recreation of hockey,” the skipper stated.
“We came to visit right here desirous to play an Australian model of hockey and we have been ready to do this for lots of this marketing campaign which is thrilling for us… we’ll go dwelling re-energise and go once more”
FIH Professional League motion continues in Might with large matches in Belgium, and the UK, for each the Kookaburras, and the Hockeyroos. You may see the complete schedule right here.
All matches shall be streamed dwell and free on 7Plus.
Match Particulars
Netherlands: 5 (Duco Telgenskamp 13’ & 20’, Jip Janssen 35’, Tjep Hoedemakers 42’, Terrance Pieters 48’)
Kookaburras: 3 (Jacob Anderson 6’, Tim Model 46’, Jeremy Hayward 55’)
In Rourkela, India
Kookaburras: 1. Lachlan Sharp, 2. Tom Craig, 4. Jake Harvie, 10. Joshua Beltz, 12. Jake Whetton,16. Tim Howard, 17. Aran Zalewski (c), 20. Ky Willott, 29. Tim Model, 30. Andrew Constitution, 32. Jeremy Hayward, 3. Corey Weyer, 5. Tom Wickham, 6. Matt Dawson, 8. Johan Durst (gk), 9. Jacob Anderson, 21. Jack Welch, 22. Flynn Ogilvie
