FIH Hockey World League Final: Australia Beat Germany, Face Netherlands in Semi-Final

World champions Australia defeated Olympic champions Germany 4-1 to set up a semi-final clash against title holders the Netherlands at the FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Final on Thursday. (India Aim for Improved Showing in Hockey World League Quarter-Final Against Great Britain)

It was a hard-fought second quarterfinal between Australia and Germany but in the end it was the Kookaburras who came out victorious.

Earlier in the day, defending champions the Netherlands had to fight hard to overcome a gritty Canada 2-0 in the first quarterfinal. (FIH Hockey World League Final: Netherlands Cruise Past Canada to Seal Semi-Final Berth)

The world's top two teams - Australia and the Netherlands - will now lock horns in the first semi-final of the tournament on Friday..

Germany had the first attempt at goal in the second minute but Florian Fuchs' reverse shot went wide after he was set up by a brilliant defence splitting pass from skipper Moritz Furste.

The miss cost Germany dear as Australia took the lead just two minutes later through a penalty corner conversion by Jeremy Hayward.

Australia doubled their lead, almost immediately, when veteran Jamie Dwyer deflected in a cross from Matthew Swann.

The Germans earned their first penalty corner in the 11th minute but wasted the opportunity.

Both teams fought hard to seize control of the match in the second quarter and Germany had a golden opportunity to score when they were awarded a penalty corner but Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter pulled off a fine save to deny Oskar Deecke.

Matthew Dawson scored from a penalty corner to extend Australia's lead to 3-0 at the halfway mark.

Desperate to make a comeback, the Germans went on the offensive and managed to pull one back in the 40th minute through Christopher Ruhr's field strike.

But that was all the Germans could manage as they failed to breach the resolute Australian defence in the remaining time of the match.

In the final minute of the match, Germany withdrew their goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi to add another striker in search of goals.

But the move backfired as Glenn Turner scored from a counter-attack to make the scoreline 4-1.