Kookaburras lose Olympic final in penalty shootout heartbreak

There was pure devastation for the Kookaburras after they lost the men’s hockey final in the most dramatic, cruel fashion imaginable.

There was heartbreak for the Aussies. Pic: Adam Head

Belgium has beaten Australia in a heartbreaking hockey final to win gold in the most dramatic circumstances.

Locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, we went to a penalty shootout. Belgium thought it had won when Australia missed its final penalty, but the video umpire was called in and ruled a replay was in order.

The official decided Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch had interfered by hitting Jake Whetton’s foot and the Kookaburras were given one last chance to stay in the hunt, but Whetton missed again and it was all over.

The win gave Belgium its first ever hockey gold medal, while the Kookaburras’ wait for Olympic gold for the first time since 2004 continues.

Sport can be so cruel.

The Belgians were ecstatic. Pic: Adam Head

Vanasch saved Australia’s first penalty to put the Kookaburras on the back foot. Belgium scored, Australia found the net with its second penalty and the Europeans delivered again to make it 2-1.

Tim Brand converted for the Aussies then the Belgians completely butchered their third shot and it was 2-2 after three shots apiece.

The Kookaburras missed for a second time before Belgium made no mistake, so after four penalties each it was 3-2 to the Belgians. When Australia made a mess for a third time, even after the replay, it was game over.

Hearts around Australia broke as one at the end of the shootout.

Agonising way to lose.
But still a tremendous effort from the Kookaburras.
Hockey shootouts are nuts.#TokyoOlympics

— Ned Zelic (@NedZelic) August 5, 2021

Agony and ecstasy… there is no more gripping reality show than live sport #Tokyo2020#kookaburras

— Caty Price (@caty_price) August 5, 2021

Heartbreaking scenes but it’s still #Silver! #Kookaburras#Olympics

— Jess Chandra (@jesschandra) August 5, 2021

Aussie goalkeeper Andrew Charter was on fire between the sticks during the game, denying Belgium on multiple occasions throughout the first half.

However, he couldn’t stop the Europeans opening the scoring in the third quarter when they pounced on a rebound at the goalmouth.

Australia bounced back though to find an equaliser in the fourth quarter. Tom Wickham scrambled to get his stick on a ball that had popped into the air off the keeper and his touch was enough for the ball to cross the line, setting up a grandstand finish.

Neither side could find a winner in regulation time and the final went down to penalties.

In a best-of-five shootout each player has eight seconds to score, but the pressure was too much for the Kookaburras.

Australia earned its way to the final match of the tournament by beating some of the world’s best teams, including world No. 6 Germany and world No. 3 Holland in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, but it couldn’t repeat the dose in the final match of the tournament.

Belgium laughed last.