With quick-thinking and sharp-shooting Blake Govers has shrugged off a lingering calf damage to avoid wasting Australia from a shock defeat on the Hockey World Cup.
With the Kookaburras 2-Three down and staring down the barrel of a defeat that will have despatched them into an additional around the mullet-and-moustachioed striker seized on an error by Argentine No.5 Facundo Zarate. He then took a fast free hit to himself and buried a fierce shot low into the nook.
The world No.1 ranked staff had twice led the South People in Bhubaneswar, however went behind with 12 minutes to go and there have been simply two minutes remaining when Govers struck.
Defeat on Monday would have virtually definitely meant they went into the crossover spherical somewhat than straight into the quarter-finals as group winners.
Colin Batch’s facet had thrashed France 8-Zero of their opening match however discovered the 2016 Olympic champions harder opposition in a gripping end-to-end encounter.
Jeremy Hayward, who scored a hat-trick of penalty corners in opposition to France, broke the impasse after ten minutes by changing one other. That, although, was the final nook Australia made depend.
The aim was maybe in opposition to the run of play however Australia virtually doubled their benefit three minutes later.
Nathan Ephraums hit the publish and Lachlan Sharp’s goal-bound follow-up was diverted by a foot lower than a yard out. Nevertheless, there was no tv referral for what would have been a penalty stroke.
Seventh-ranked Argentina leveled 4 minutes into the second quarter when Tomas Domene transformed their first penalty nook.
That introduced a powerful response from the Kookaburras however last-ditch defending stored them at bay till the ultimate seconds of the quarter.
Then Daniel Beale, reacting first after Tom Wickham had deflected Jake Whetton’s shot onto the bar, scored on the reverse stick.
Argentina, although, equalized once more when Dutch-based Maico Casella neatly diverted Lucas Toscani’s shot in from shut vary.
Either side throught that they had scored once more within the third quarter however a TV referral dominated out an personal aim that got here off the knee of Nicolas Cicileo, and was thus too excessive, then Argentina have been denied by an infraction.
With 12 minutes to go Martin Ferreiro twisted away from veteran co-captain Eddie Ockenden on the sting of the D earlier than whipping a backstick shot previous Andrew Constitution to place Argentina forward.
Constitution was withdrawn within the closing minutes as Australia went with out a keeper of their quest for a leveller.
Because of Govers it paid off, however former World Cup profitable coach Ric Charlesworth, working as a commentator, mentioned the match was ‘a get up name’ Australia might need wanted.
It was the primary time Australia had conceded three objectives in a World Cup staff since a Charlesworth-coached staff misplaced 3-2 to England in 2010. They went on to win the competitors.
Australia subsequent face world No.14 South Africa in Rourkela on Friday. South Africa are backside of the group having adopted a 1-Zero opening defeat in opposition to Argentina with a 2-1 loss to France on Monday.
