Australia beat Netherlands to enter final

New Delhi: Mighty Australia continued their rampaging form in the tournament as they overcame a fighting Netherlands 2-1 in the second semifinal of the hockey World Cup here on Thursday to set up a re-match of last edition's title-clash against Germany.

With this win, Australia have a golden chance of avenging their 3-4 defeat at the hands of the Germans in the last edition of the tournament in Monchengladbach, Germany.

Germany had earlier defeated England 4-1 in the first semifinal to reach their third consecutive World Cup final.

For Australia Luke Doerner scored his seventh penalty corner of the tournament to top the goal-scorers chart along with Taeke Taekema, who scored Holland's lone goal from a penalty stroke.

In-form striker Glenn Turner scored the other goal for the Aussies to register his sixth goal in the megavent.

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Australia were clearly a better side as their opponents found it difficult to match their pace and verve.

The match was a fast-paced encounter with Australia putting The Netherlands defense under immense pressure right from the start.

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The Aussies were in their attacking best throughout the game while the Dutch had to work hard to enter their opponent's Dee and were forced to play a catch-up game.

The Aussies got their first big opportunity in the third minute but Grant Schubert's shot from close range was saved by veteran Holland goalkeeper Guus Vogels with his helmet.

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Two minutes later, brilliant Vogels yet again denied Schubert the chance to score, saving another powerful shot.

The Netherlands had to wait till the 23rd minute to get their first scoring chance, but Jeroen Hertzberger push from their first short corner was saved by a diving Nathan Burgers on the Australian goal.

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Australia broke the deadlock four minutes later through Doerner, who beautifully converted his seventh penalty corner of the tournament and his side's first of the match.

Holland got an opportunity to equalise five minutes from interval from their second short corner but Taekema could not shot a dragflick on goal as the ball was not stopped properly.

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The Kookaburras continued their domination after the lemon break and got another chance in the 38th minute through Desmond Abbott, but his shot was saved by a vigilant Vogels.

The mighty Aussies doubled their lead in the 55th minute through Turner, who scored his sixth goal of the tournament.

The Netherland, however, pulled one back in the 58th minute through Taekema who scored from a penalty stroke after video umpire was brought into action.

In the dying stages of the match, the Netherlands played their heart and soul out in search of the equaliser and on two occasions came close to getting it.

The Netherlands will now take on the most impressive side of the tournament England in the third-fourth classification match on Saturday.