Kookaburras open their Rabobank Hockey World Cup account with sparkling second half performance
Glenn Turner was the first name on the Rabobank Hockey World Cup score sheet as the number one ranked team, Australia, opened their account with a emphatic 4-0 victory over 13th-ranked Malaysia. The result was especially sweet for Rob Hammond, as he received his 250th cap.
The Kookaburras didn’t have it all their own way; the first half saw some solid defending and spirited counter-attacks by the Speedy Tigers, particularly from an industrious Ismail Abu down the right-hand side of the pitch, but as the match progressed so the reigning champions took control and dominated the game.
Both teams had scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of the game, with a shot from Kieran Govers blocked on the line by teammate Simon Orchard and Malaysia forcing a save from Andrew Charter in the Australia goal.
Penalty corners were a rarity in the first half, with the Kookaburras winning two to Malaysia’s one. Both ‘keepers were called into action but Malaysia’s Kumar Subramiam was the busier and pulled off some good saves to keep his team in the game. Before Turner (25’) broke the deadlock, Jacob Whetton had produced the best scoring opportunity, but again Subramiam was up to the challenge. The goal, when it came, was the result of some classic counter-attacking. Aran Zawelski won the ball in the Kookaburra’s circle and his clearance found Turner who ran half the pitch and then took the ball calmly around the stranded keeper.
In the second half, buoyed by a 1-0 lead, Australia began to pile on the pressure, with Malaysia pinned in their own half for large periods of play. Chris Ciriello hit the post from a penalty corner just minutes into the second half and Kieran Govers will look back with horror on his miss in front of an open goal after a cross from Matt Gohdes found him unmarked.
The Kookaburra’s lead was extended through Eddie Ockenden (50′) when he won the ball on the right-hand sideline before dancing his way through the Malaysian defence to fire home a reverse stick shot. Just two minutes later Jamie Dwyer (52′) showed his individual brilliance as he took the ball around the the edge of the Malaysian circle before scoring with his back to goal.
Turner’s (54′) second was a deflected shot following a ball played into the circle by Ciriello who, alongside Matthew Swann, was a powerhouse in the Australian midfield.
Malaysia reignited their supporters in the closing 10 minutes of the game when first Hafifi Hanafi and then Nabil Mohd Noor won their team two penalty corner, but the final score underlined Australia’s intentions at this World Cup.
“We always knew this was going to be tough,” said Malaysia’s Tengku Ahmad, “but we know that we have to make more of our chances and create some quick counter attacks when we play these high-ranked teams.”
Australia’s Chris Ciriello said that although the Kookaburras had got the result, “the game had been a bit scratchy. We have two new guys in because of injury so it took a little while to get our connections going, but it is the first game.”
And Jeremy Hayward, playing in his first senior World Cup after starring at the Junior World Cup, said the game had been “just an awesome experience. We stuck to our game plan and although we slipped a few chances, we trusted it would come.”
Official Match Report (PDF)