Kookaburras knock out Dutch in Olympic shootout
The Kookaburras have kept their gold medal hopes alive, defeating European champions the Netherlands in a heart-stopping penalty shoot-out to secure their place in the Olympic Semi Finals in Tokyo.
A shootout was required after scores were tied 2-2 after 60 minutes, neither side able to snatch a winner.
Ironically, it was Dutch-born Australian Tim Brand, who is having a stellar tournament, who set up both of the Kookaburras’ goals for Tom Wickham and sealed victory with the winning penalty after teammates Blake Govers and Flynn Ogilvie also converted their penalties.
Outstanding goalkeeping from two-time Olympian Andrew Charter saw him save seven from nine field attempts from the Netherlands and deny all three Dutchman in the shootout.
Match Details
Kookaburras 2 (Wickham 13’/38’)
Netherlands 2 (van der Weerden 32’, Hertzberger 50’) Kookaburras win shootout 3-0
@ Oi Stadium, Tokyo
Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden (c), 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
