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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Ono delivers vital Wanderers win

Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Much-maligned striker Dino Kresinger won an 87th-minute penalty and marquee star Shinji Ono slotted his first A-League goal to give Western Sydney Wanderers their second win over reigning champions Brisbane Roar this season in a dramatic finish at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.

Japanese playmaker Ono ended his frustrating wait for a first goal, converting an 87th-minute penalty in a 1-0 win to leave the Roar level with Sydney FC at the bottom off the ladder.

It was a repeat scoreline of the Wanderers' triumph over Brisbane earlier this season, the rookie club's first ever win.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	10	7	2	1	11	23
2	Adelaide	10	7	1	2	8	22
3	Victory	10	5	1	4	-3	16
4	Western Sydney	10	4	1	5	-2	13
5	Newcastle	10	4	1	5	-5	13
6	Wellington	10	3	3	4	1	12
7	Heart	10	3	3	4	0	12
8	Perth	10	3	2	5	-1	11
9	Brisbane	10	3	1	6	0	10
10	Sydney	10	3	1	6	-9	10

With the match seemingly headed for a draw as both sides struggled at times in strong winds, substitute Dino Kresinger - booed by his own fans as he came on - turned the game when he marched into the box and was brought down by Matthew Jurman.

Ono, who had missed a great opportunity to score just two minutes earlier, made no mistake with the spot kick to send the 6755 home fans into raptures.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was excited as the marquee man is starting to reaching peak fitness.

"He's had a lot of shots on goal today, which is encouraging for us,'' Popovic said.\

"He's getting into that area where he can actually score now and he's been able to reproduce that more often, so his fitness has obviously improved.

"Hopefully that's another tick in the box for him and he can build on that.''

The Roar's response was spectacular and they almost equalised several times, with Mitch Nichols and Shane Stefanutto both hitting the post.

Up until the goal it had been a tale of two halves with the Wanderers unlucky not to have taken at least a one-goal advantage into the break and Brisbane stronger after halftime with the wind at their backs.

Western Sydney were denied a spectacular opener only by the crossbar in the eighth minute when Youssouf Hersi unleashed a ferocious drive from 20m out.

Mateo Poljak hit a first time shot similarly well five minutes later only for it to be deflected just wide of the posts.
Ono had a good shot deflected away in the 26th minute and sent a curling free kick just wide.

Brisbane had several decent chances in the first half, probably the best falling to Ben Halloran in the 29th as he trickled a shot across the face of goal.

Ante Covic was called into action soon after the break to deny Besart Berisha as the Roar came out with renewed vigour.

They continued to mount pressure, though they were lacking a spark in front of goal.

Roar coach Rade Vidosic said it was only a matter of time.

"All we need to do is believe in ourselves and our system and keep working hard and sooner or later our luck will turn,'' he said.

Ono's drought looked set to continue when he flashed wide in the 85th but Kresinger set up a fairy tale finish and those that had booed him were soon chanting his name.

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Hurricanes too hot for the Heat

Impact ... Englishman Owais Shah was a pivotal influence in Hobarts's win. Source: Kim Eiszele / News Limited

Some big names were missing but it did not stop the Brisbane Heat seeing stars after they were bludgeoned by Hobart Hurricanes pair Travis Birt and Owais Shah in the Big Bash League on Sunday night.

T20 - Gabba

9 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Hurricanes 1st Innings

T. Birt	57	40	5	2	142.5
O. Shah	36	23	3	2	156.52
C. Gannon	4	0	38	0	9.50

Hobart skipper George Bailey joked that a ``dodgy burger'' consumed at the Australian Open golf in Sydney last week was why ex-Test captain Ricky Ponting pulled out of their opening BBL clash with a stomach bug.

However, the Hurricanes still dined out at the Gabba as Birt (57 not out off 40 balls) and Shah (36 not out off 23) picked up where they left off from last year's tournament to ensure Hobart an eight-wicket victory.

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Their 95-run unbeaten stand off 52 balls guided Hobart to 2-175 in reply to Brisbane's 6-172, which was inspired by Dan Christian (49) and Joe Burns (44) while Hurricanes medium-pacer Evan Gulbis took 3-29.

Birt - the BBL's leading run-scorer (345 runs) - and Shah scored almost half of Hobart's runs last season (627 out of 1264).

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And they were at it again on Sunday night, coming together at 2-80 in the 10th over before launching their rescue mission.

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Ponting's withdrawal added to a growing list of no shows.

The Heat scratched young quick Alister McDermott (ankle) before the match.

Brisbane were already without world No.1 bowler Dale Steyn after his South African province Cape Cobras surprisingly pulled him.

And the Heat will be without New Zealand allrounder Dan Vettori (achilles) for the entire BBL campaign.

Birt and Shah emerged as the stars but didn't have it all their own way.

The Heat thought they had Birt caught behind off Sri Lankan import Thisara Perera on 40 but it was unclear whether the ball carried to diving wicketkeeper Chris Hartley.

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Senior cherishes Aus Open triumph

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Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Peter Senior cherished his sweetest triumph after holding his nerve in "near impossible'' conditions to become golf's oldest Australian Open champion.

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The 53-year-old overcame galeforce winds and a three-hour delay at the windswept Lakes course in Sydney to post a dogged final-round even-par 72 to win the Stonehaven Cup by a shot from a valiant Brendan Jones (71).

With his teenage son Mitchell carrying his bag, Senior tallied four-under for the tournament after rounds of 75-68-69-72 to claim his 30th professional win - and first since the 2010 Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

"This is probably the most special,'' Senior said.

"We've been closer over in America. We've lost three playoffs, come pretty close in a few other events and just once I would have liked to have said: `Mitch, well done mate, we've done it.'''

The Queenslander's second Open victory on a drama-charged afternoon comes after his first as a 30-year-old at back in 1989.

"I'm getting a bit long in the tooth now. I really thought these days were over,'' Senior said.

"God, golf is such a funny game. One minute you think you're down, the next minute you're up.

"I didn't play particularly well this week, but I got it up and down out of some places all week and today was no exception.''

The previous oldest Open winner was the legendary Peter Thomson at 43 at Kooyonga in 1972.

As virtually the entire field went backwards in winds gusting up to 80kph, Senior dropped just two shots all day - at the fifth and seventh holes - but birdies on the par-4 10th and 12th holes proved priceless.

While Senior took the spoils, Jones was heroic in almost snatching victory with a spectacular finish.

Contesting his first national championship in four years, the Japan-based Jones nearly overcame a 12-shot deficit early in his round after going five under through his last 13 holes, including a brilliant eagle on the par-5 17th.

But he was gallant in defeat.

"Peter Senior, he's a champion,'' Jones said.

Cameron Percy (73) finished outright third at two under, one ahead of Kim Felton (72), rookie Kieran Pratt (75) and English world No.4 Justin Rose (76).

Third-round leader John Senden - who also led into Sunday last year only to come up short - had a shocker, capitulating with a final-round 82 to be joint 18th.

The tournament finished in near darkness but while some players argued about the suspension of play, Open boss Trevor Herden said officials had no alternative but to halt proceedings just before noon when the fierce winds knocked down a television tower near the 18th green.

The southerly change also caused scoreboards to topple over, balls to move on the fairways and greens and sand to be blown from bunkers and into the galleries.

Herden said player and spectator safety was paramount.

"We had to suspend play,'' he said.

"Obviously there's nothing we can do to protect anybody other than to get them out of danger.

"We have an obligation to the public and the players and then there's the golf course, which at that point became unplayable.

"We were managing very, very well through the 60km (wind) zone but once we got to 80, we all know that no golf course can defend 80-kilometre winds.''

Herden agreed conditions were "brutal'', but defending champion Greg Chalmers claimed they were even tougher than that.

"Borderline impossible at certain points,'' Chalmers said after closing with a 77 to tie 23rd.

"t was just one of the most difficult days that I've played in a long time.''

 

Tour: APGA

Event Date: 06/12/2012 - 09/12/2012

Course Name: The Lakes Golf Club

Course Length: 6290m

Par Score: 72

1	Peter Senior	(AUS)	F	-4	75	68	69	72	284
2	Brendan Jones	(AUS)	F	-3	68	71	75	71	285
3	Cameron Percy	(AUS)	F	-2	72	69	72	73	286
T4	Justin Rose	(ENG)	F	-1	68	73	70	76	287
T4	Kieran Pratt	(AUS)	F	-1	71	71	70	75	287
T4	Kim Felton	(AUS)	F	-1	68	75	72	72	287
T7	Stuart Appleby	(AUS)	F	E	70	73	70	75	288
T7	Scott Gardiner	(AUS)	F	E	76	71	68	73	288
T7	Michael Hendry	(NZL)	F	E	72	71	74	71	288
T10	Nick O'Hern	(AUS)	F	+1	71	73	73	72	289
T10	Rod Pampling	(AUS)	F	+1	74	69	73	73	289
T10	Matthew Jones	(AUS)	F	+1	71	72	69	77	289
T10	Brett Rumford	(AUS)	F	+1	73	69	75	72	289

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'Reds have set the benchmark'

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Benchmark ... Adelaide's Bruce Djite holds off Billy Celeski. Source:News Limited

Fox Sports' football expert Mark Bosnich believes Adelaide United's first-half performance against Melbourne Victory has set the benchmark for the season.

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Adelaide United 4 defeated Melbourne Victory 2 at Hindmarsh Stadium

Bozza: Phenomenal. The pace of the game, considering the heat, and the quality of the football. Speed in any type of game really does make a difference and when you play at that type of pace, yes you can make a lot more mistakes, but in terms of entertainment value and the quality that was on show, the 14,000 sell-out crowd at Hindmarsh must have gone home - plus the result for them - very, very happy. Watching it on TV was fantastic - entertainment, great atmosphere from the crowd - the big test for Adelaide is that they've set the benchmark for themselves. Can they keep doing it week in, week out?

Griffiths: They've got the depth that no other team in the A-League has at the moment. I think Central Coast are the closest ones to that. They're playing great football, their fans are on board now, which is important, and I can't see anyone really threatening them aside from the Mariners at the moment.

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Melbourne Heart 1 defeated Perth Glory 0 at AAMI Park

Griffiths: It's always going to be physical when you're playing against Perth Glory and I think it's instilled in all the players there. You know you've got to be up for the challenge. I take my hat off to Heart, they played the game in that way. [Josip] Tadic, I don't really agree with going down when you don't get hit, he probably got him in the eye or something, but that's playing the game. If they're going to come out doing that you've got to do it yourself.

Bozza: I can tell you, during my 20 years as a professional, I would say once every three weeks (there was a bust-up in the tunnel). Minimum. Not only that but at training as well, between teammates, and moreso probably at the bigger clubs. At Manchester United for example I would say there was a training ground fight once every two or three weeks.

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Newcastle Jets 0 lost to Central Coast Mariners 2 at Hunter Stadium

Bozza: The first half I thought there was a split hair between the sides. I think the Mariners perhaps created the more open opportunities of both sides but it was still very close. I thought gradually starting with Josh Rose on the right-hand side and Pedj Bojic on the other, that was the key. At the beginning, young [James] Brown and Craig Goodwin had them penned back, but once they established midfield dominance, and those two boys started to get forward, it was a completely different game. Both goals came as a result.

Griffiths: I think we're [Newcastle] at a stage where consistency is a little bit out the door. We need to be more consistent as a team. I think I explained earlier that when you have a younger squad, it's difficult to get that consistency, but when we go on a roll, we really go on a roll. If we can get those wins together, Newcastle are dangerous.

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Wellington Phoenix 1 lost to Sydney FC 2 at Westpac Stadium

Griffiths: To go over there and try to get a win, they've gone and done it and I take my hat off to them. Maybe it is the new coach effect there but whatever Frank's done, he's done well.

Bozza: A really good performance like I said, it is the first week and there's a lot of work to do, especially the way they play - keeping possession of the ball. Wellington weren't at their very best, albeit, but the way they kept possession, they just looked a much better, much more orgainsed side. But there's a long way to go and a big test this week with the derby, but a fantastic victory and they deserve a bit of respite after the stick that they've, deservedly, copped for their start to the season.

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Western Sydney Wanderers 1 defeated Brisbane Roar 0 at Parramatta Stadium

Bozza: The first 15 minutes I thought the Wanderers dominated and were unfortunate not to be 1-0 up. Brisbane just aren't quite the same free-flowing side we've become accustomed to over the last two seasons. They slowly got their way back into it but not in the way that we're used to, not with that free-flowing type of football. They did create a few chances but I thought it had 0-0 written all over it until it exploded a little bit over those last few minutes, but Brisbane will count themselves very unfortunate not to get themselves at least a point, especially with hitting the bar and the post straight after they conceded the penalty.

Griffiths: Sometimes that happens in football, you don't realise until you go behind that 'hang on I'd better start playing here'. It happens a lot and Brisbane are very good at coming home as we know from the past. But the game, definitely like Bozza said, Brisbane's free-flowing game from last year just isn't there this year.

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Bolton beauty is Bozza's best

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Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Melbourne Heart fans were not only chanting Golgol Mebrahtu's name on Saturday night, one of the heroes was undoubtedly Clint Bolton.

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Bolton is one of Australia's most experienced goalkeepers and showed he has lost nothing by denying Perth Glory's Travis Dodd from point-blank range.

Bolton didn't have to save too many against the Glory but when called on did his job with aplomb. As the cross came in, Dodd sneaked in behind his Heart marker and fired a shot low to the left hand corner only to be denied by Bolton's outstretched fingers.

At the other end, Mebrahtu would strike late to deliver all three points to the Heart in a tense 1-0 win.

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich singled the effort out as his save of the week.

Bosnich said the technical difficulty of Bolton's save was the deciding factor, just in front of Sydney FC youngster Vedran Janjetovic.

"That change in direction at a crucial time in the game - it's one of the hardest things to do as a goalkeeper and that was truly an outstanding save," he said.

"It contributed greatly to Melbourne Heart notching up the victory.

"There's a lot of work that goes into that. You probably do 30 or 40 every week, going across your goal, changing direction and saving at various heights.

Janjetovic has shown great talent in his few starts for Sydney FC and was again on hand to stop Wellington Phoenix.

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Socceroos qualify for East Asian Cup

Australia needed just over half an hour to secure their East Asian Cup berth with an 8-0 demolition of lowly Taiwan at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday night.

The top-placed Socceroos will now join Japan, China and hosts South Korea in the showpiece next July.

Adam Taggart, Richard Garcia and Aziz Behich all scored their maiden international goals with Robert Cornthwaite and Aaron Mooy rounding out the scoring for the experimental Socceroos side.

Rookies Taggart and Behich both netted a brace each while Taiwan gifted Australia their eighth with an own goal.

With North Korea beating hosts Hong Kong 4-0 in Sunday's earlier match Australia knew they needed at least five goals against world No.176 side Taiwan to better the Koreans goal difference of plus 14.

It didn't take long for Australia to get off the mark with Melbourne Heart striker Garcia scoring in the 11th minute courtesy of superb lead-up work from Behich. Scott Jamieson forced a save from Taiwan goal keeper Lu Kun Chi moments later with the rebound falling to Cornthwaite who made no mistake.

Newcastle's teen striker Taggart took advantage of the lacklustre defence to easily score in the 19th minute and put Australia up 3-0.

Taggart found the back of the net again soon after, getting on the end of a Jamieson ball for the 4-0 lead. Behich secured Australia's East Asian Cup berth with a header in the 33rd minute as Australia went 5-0 up.

Mooy continued the assault right after the break, scoring with a superb free-kick - quickly becoming his specialty - for the 6-0 advantage.

The Taiwan side did their best to halt the humiliation with defenders scrambling at the goal mouth to block a tirade from Emerton, Taggart and Behich.

Behich scored his second in the 56th minute easily getting past Taiwan's hapless defence.

Archie Thompson, who replaced Garcia in the 57th minute, twice came heartbreakingly close to equalling Damian Mori's all-time highest goal scoring record for Australia, stinging the palms of 'keeper Lu and denied by the woodwork moments later.

Adding insult to injury Taiwan supplemented Australia's massive goal haul with an own goal from skipper Yang Cha Hsun 10 minutes before time.

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Perth strike out against Adelaide

Dominant ... Adelaide Strikers' Phillip Hughes plays a shot on his way to a fine 74. Source: aniel Wilkins / News Limited

Recalled Test batsman Phil Hughes warmed up for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in fine fashion, cracking 74 off 48 balls to inspire Adelaide Strikers to a six-wicket Twenty20 victory over Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground on Sunday.

T20 - WACA Ground

9 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Strikers 1st Innings

T. Doropoulos	12	11	2	0	109.09
J. Botha	5	4	0	0	125
B. Edmondson	3.2	0	35	1	10.50

Scorchers opener Shaun Marsh scored 57 and Adam Voges posted 58 to help lift Perth to 6-162 from their allotted overs.

In reply, Adelaide reached 4-164 in 19.2 overs, with man-of-the-match Hughes cracking nine fours and one six to set up the innings, before Nathan Reardon (42 off 26 balls) and Theo Doropoulos (12 not out) guided the Strikers to victory in front of 12,117 fans.

The game was precariously balanced until Reardon and Doropoulos scored 19 runs in the 18th over off the bowling of Ben Edmondson.

Earlier, Marsh made a welcome return to form in Perth's competitive total.

Marsh entered the match in terrible form, having averaged just 10.2 in the Sheffield Shield and 17.7 in one-dayers this season.

But the 29-year-old looked good once he found his rhythm against the Strikers, hitting three fours and three sixes to help the Scorchers reach a competitive total.

However, Marsh strained his hamstring shortly before holing out, and was unable to take his place in the field.

The former Test batsman will undergo further assessment to determine his availability for Wednesday night's home clash with the Melbourne Stars.

Marsh has a history of hamstring problems, having torn his left hamstring while playing for Australia at the WACA in 2009.

Coincidentally, Marsh's brother, Mitch, is also nursing a hamstring injury, albeit a season-ending one that required surgery.

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 1-22 from four overs for the Strikers, while Johan Botha (1-23) and paceman Kane Richardson (3-33) were also important.

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