Kookaburras’ medal hopes looking grim after second straight loss

THE GOLDEN glow of Australia’s men’s hockey side is fast losing its sheen. After their second straight loss, their medal hopes aren’t looking as high as they once did.

Glenn Turner of Australia moves the ball past Emmanuel Stockbroekx of Belgium.

THE GOLDEN glow of Australia’s men’s hockey side is fast losing its sheen.

The Kookaburras had won every major trophy leading into the Olympics and were considered one of Australia’s hottest medal prospects.

But they suffered their second pool loss in 48 hours with a 1-0 defeat against Belgium.

Australia had forced most of the chances in a 1-0 loss to Spain but if anything Belgium could have converted more opportunities as it controlled play for most of the contest.

A pool win against Belgium was vital because the alternative would see their rival jump two games clear along with fellow A side Spain, which is also unbeaten.

The top four sides in each pool progress to the quarterfinals but with Germany and Holland also unbeaten in Pool B a knockout game against those teams would be unenviable.

Suddenly the path to that elusive gold medal seems as far away as ever after, with Australia in fourth spot in its pool behind the unbeaten teams and Great Britain.

The Kookaburras have just a lucky win over New Zealand from three games, with the Kiwis denied a late equalising goal after it was referred to the third umpire.

Australia huddles up.

Australia should have come out breathing fire early in the contest but instead seemed happy to sit back and let Belgium bring the game to them.

The Belgians eagerly obliged, creating a handful of dangerous chances and stifling Australia when it did try to attack.

Confoundingly, Australia rarely sent numbers forward into attacking positions but still gave Belgium plenty of move when it did surge forward.

In the second minute of the second period Belgium made Australia pay with an expert piece of interplay deep in attack.

By the time Thomas Briels crossed the ball to Tanguy Cosyns he had the easiest tap-in past Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

Australia’s best two chances in the second and third were a pair of short corners but Chris Ciriello’s drag flick was parried away.

Early in the last term Blake Govers’ drag flick went wide too, with Australia failing to convert any of its four penalty corner chances.

Australia now plays Great Britain and Brazil and must win both of those games to ensure it remains alive after its shock losses in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Originally published as Kookaburras’ medal hopes looking grim after second straight loss