ROURKELA: Star striker Blake Govers scored four times, including on a penalty kick, as title contenders Australia beat South Africa 9-2 to dominate Pool A and qualify directly for the quarter-finals of the FIH Men’s World Cup friday.
Australia will face the winner of the crossover match between Malaysia and Spain in the quarter-finals on January 24 in Bhubaneswar.
Govers struck in the fourth, 15th, 19th and 20th minutes as the rampaging Australians led 7-1 at half-time. His first and fourth strikes were field goals while the second came from a penalty corner and the third from the penalty spot.
Tom Craig (10th), Jake Harvie (22nd), Daniel Beale (28th), Jeremy Hayward (32nd) and Tim Brand (47th) were the other Australian scorers at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Ntuli Nqobile (8th) and Kok Tevin (58th) were the scorers — both goals — for South Africa.
The Kookaburras slowed down a bit in the third and fourth quarters, scoring just one goal apiece. The fourth quarter saw both teams score one goal each.
Five of Australia’s goals were from field efforts while three came from penalty corners. Australia won eight PCs against five of the South Africans.
In another Pool A match, Argentina and France scored a goal each in the last minute to draw 5-5 in a dramatic game.
Argentina finished second in the pool with five points from three matches – one win and two draws – while France finished third with four points – one win, one draw and one loss.
Argentina will face the third-place team from Pool B in their crossover match on January 22 in Bhubaneswar while France will face the second-place team from Pool B the following day.
France thought they had won the game 5-4 after Victor Charlet scored in the last minute of the penalty kick but Argentina equalized after a few seconds from a penalty corner. Argentina earned four penalty corners in a row and scored from the last to share points with France.
Charlet (36th, 38th, 48th and 60th) scored four goals for France, including two from the penalty spot. His first and last came from penalty shots while the second and third came from PC. Tynevez Etienne scored the other goal for France in the 11th minute.
For Argentina, who drew 3-3 against group leaders Australia, Nicolas Della Torre (34th, 42nd and 60th) scored a hat-trick while Keenan Nicolas (3rd) and Martin Ferreiro (51st) were the other scorers.
The Netherlands and England also booked direct quarter-final berths after dominating Pool C and Pool D respectively on Thursday.
Australia will face the winner of the crossover match between Malaysia and Spain in the quarter-finals on January 24 in Bhubaneswar.
Govers struck in the fourth, 15th, 19th and 20th minutes as the rampaging Australians led 7-1 at half-time. His first and fourth strikes were field goals while the second came from a penalty corner and the third from the penalty spot.
Tom Craig (10th), Jake Harvie (22nd), Daniel Beale (28th), Jeremy Hayward (32nd) and Tim Brand (47th) were the other Australian scorers at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Ntuli Nqobile (8th) and Kok Tevin (58th) were the scorers — both goals — for South Africa.
The Kookaburras slowed down a bit in the third and fourth quarters, scoring just one goal apiece. The fourth quarter saw both teams score one goal each.
Five of Australia’s goals were from field efforts while three came from penalty corners. Australia won eight PCs against five of the South Africans.
In another Pool A match, Argentina and France scored a goal each in the last minute to draw 5-5 in a dramatic game.
Argentina finished second in the pool with five points from three matches – one win and two draws – while France finished third with four points – one win, one draw and one loss.
Argentina will face the third-place team from Pool B in their crossover match on January 22 in Bhubaneswar while France will face the second-place team from Pool B the following day.
France thought they had won the game 5-4 after Victor Charlet scored in the last minute of the penalty kick but Argentina equalized after a few seconds from a penalty corner. Argentina earned four penalty corners in a row and scored from the last to share points with France.
Charlet (36th, 38th, 48th and 60th) scored four goals for France, including two from the penalty spot. His first and last came from penalty shots while the second and third came from PC. Tynevez Etienne scored the other goal for France in the 11th minute.
For Argentina, who drew 3-3 against group leaders Australia, Nicolas Della Torre (34th, 42nd and 60th) scored a hat-trick while Keenan Nicolas (3rd) and Martin Ferreiro (51st) were the other scorers.
The Netherlands and England also booked direct quarter-final berths after dominating Pool C and Pool D respectively on Thursday.
