Last gasp World Cup heartbreak for Kookaburras
Published Sat 28 Jan 2023
The Kookaburras’ pursuit of a fourth World Cup title has been crushed in heartbreaking fashion, Germany scoring twice in the final two minutes to prevail 4-3 in their semi final encounter in Bhubaneswar.
Just like they did in their quarter final against England, Germany manufactured another Houdini act after Blake Govers had put the Kookaburras 3-2 up in the 58th minute.
Jeremy Hayward’s eighth goal of the tournament, the 99th of his career, and Nathan Ephraums’ first World Cup strike had the Kookaburras 2-0 ahead at half time.
But the Germans hit back courtesy of a double from Gonzalo Peillat to level it up with eight minutes remaining.
Govers produced a world class drag flick to seemingly give the Kookaburras one foot in the Final, however Germany had other ideas and the know-how after pulling off a similar miracle just a day earlier.
Peillet secured his hat-trick a minute after Govers’ goal before Niklas Wellen struck with just seconds remaining to win the game for Germany just as the match appeared destined to be decided by a shootout.
It was the Kookaburras’ first defeat to Germany since the 2014 Champions Trophy, which ironically came at the same venue in Bhubaneswar.
The Kookaburras lost to the Netherlands in a shootout in the semi finals of the last World Cup, and this defeat to Germany will hurt just as much if not more.
After using the video referral system to great effect to prevent Germany from earning two early penalty corners, the Kookaburras struck first when Hayward stepped up to hammer a drag flick past German goalkeeper Alexander Stadler into the backboard to make it 1-0.
Tim Brand went close to making it a two goal advantage when he jinked the ball to create space for a shot but Stadler came to Germany’s rescue.
High on confidence after his quarter final heroics, Andrew Charter made a sharp save from Germany’s first penalty corner as the Europeans turned up the pressure, forcing the Kookaburras to defend valiantly.
The Kookaburras’ reward came when they pounced from a sharp counterattack to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute.
Lachlan Sharp sent a straight pass to Tom Wickham near the baseline and his searching ball across found Ephraums who trapped the ball while on his knees before using his second touch to knock the ball under Stadler.
It was Ephraums’ goal but Tom Craig was integral in it, starting the move inside his own half before making a darting run to the back post to attract the attention of two German defenders.
The Kookaburras again successfully challenged through the video umpire after Germany was awarded a penalty stroke.
Germany continued to force the issue and control possession before the Kookaburras had another lightning counterattack, Jake Whetton denied by an on rushing Stadler.
The Kookaburras’ dam wall finally broke in the 43rd minute, Peillat beating Charter with a drag flick after Germany had won a succession of penalty corners.
Germany continued to put the Kookaburras’ under siege, Charter and Flynn Ogilvie combining to keep out another goal bound drag flick.
Peillet then scored again to make it 2-2 as the urgency from both sides increased.
Govers gave the Kookaburras the ascendancy back but Germany had the final say, scoring twice in the final 90 seconds to dash the hopes of Australia featuring in the tournament’s showpiece fixture.
The Kookaburras will now need to regroup for the Bronze medal match against either Belgium or the Netherlands on Sunday night at 10pm AEDT.
Match Details
Kookaburras 3 (Hayward 12’, Ephraums 27’, Govers 58’)
Germany 4 (Peillat 43’/52’/59’, Wellen 60’)
@ Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused substitute: 8.Johan Durst (gk)
