Kookaburras claim Champions Trophy

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Australia's Russell Ford is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during their gold medal playoff match against the Netherlands. Source:AP

Australia have won their fifth successive Champions Trophy in sensational style, beating The Netherlands 2-1 in golden goal extra-time in Melbourne on Sunday.

Kieran Govers scored the Kookaburras' winner in an enthralling contest five minutes into extra-time to seal victory after the scores were tied 1-1 after normal time.

The Australians overcame an inspired goalkeeping performance from Dutchman Jaap Stockmann to eventually prevail.

Stockmann made five superb second half stops to deny the Kookaburras, and force the game into golden goal extra-time.

But in echoes of the Kookaburras' unforgettable golden goal win over the Dutch at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Govers' reverse stick shot from an Eddie Ockenden pass sealed gold for Australia.

Australia have now won the annual tournament featuring the world's top eight hockey nations for five years runnings.

The Dutch took an early lead, breaking Australia's run of four consecutive clean sheets at this tournament with Sander Baart's unstoppable drag flick on 18 minutes.

But Russell Ford netted the equaliser with a penalty corner after 31 minutes, before Stockmann came to the rescue just on halftime.

His excellent save from Jamie Dwyer's penalty stroke looked to be match-turning, and sent the teams to the break at 1-1.

Then Stockmann continued his heroics after the break - twice saving from drag flicks and making two more important saves from Ford and Mark Knowles.

With less than two minutes remaining, Stockmann again saved from a penalty corner - this time from Joel Carroll - to send the match into extra-time.

Earlier Pakistan won the bronze medal, fighting back from a goal down to beat India 3-2.
India's VR Raghunath netted early.

But Muhammad Rizwan Senior equalised midway through the first half, before Pakistan took the lead early in the second with a neat goal to Shafqat Rasool.

Both sides had their chances in a free-flowing match, before Muhammad Ateeq's drag flick with five minutes left sealed bronze for Pakistan.

India netted a consolation goal through Rupinder Pal Singh with the last play of the match.

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