Kookaburras through to the semi-finals after Dutch shootout

All of the Australian men’s hockey team’s work and build-up towards an Olympic dream over the past five years fell on the shoulders of just one man after 60 minutes of Sunday’s quarter-final against the Netherlands.

And what better man than Kookaburra goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

Flynn Ogilvie lands one of the penalties to help Australia to the semis in the men’s hockey competition. Credit: AP

The 30-year-old accepted the load, after scores were deadlocked at 2-all at the end of 60 minutes, and produced the three biggest saves of his career to send his nation into the medal round once again.

Charter admitted to having a cheat sheet on the Dutch shootout takers, before delivering a perfect performance with a couple of saves and forcing another shot wide.

“The pressure was huge but we’d done our research this morning and yesterday. We had a plan and to see it come together in the moment was really good,” Charter said. “It just showed if we do our homework, we can win this.”

So often the Kookaburras’ Olympic and major tournaments dreams have ended in heartbreak but not this time. This was one back on The Netherlands, who had more than once been Australia’s tormentors.

“He was a rock for us today. He’s a great keeper,” Kookaburras captain Aran Zalewski said after his side had not played to their lofty standards in the quarter-final.

“We probably let ourselves down a little bit by giving them a few chances and too many corners but he had our back today, which is huge.

“We’ll look to build on this performance and just nut out some of those deficiencies that we showed today.”

While Charter, who has been one of the Kookaburras’ best through the Games, was denying the Dutch, Blake Govers, Flynn Ogilvie and Tim Brand played their part in finding the net in the shootout.

Tim Brand and Flynn Ogilvie celebrate the penalty shootout victory.Credit: Getty

It would have been cruel had Australia not gone through to Tuesday’s semi-final, where they will meet Germany, who beat Argentina 3-1 in their quarter final. But the Kookaburras know better than most that the Olympics aren’t always fair.

“It’s bloody amazing, mate,” Charter said. “We had a bit of disappointment at the World Cup a couple of years ago against Holland and to come out here and put on a performance, not our best, but we managed to get into the shootout, and to win it is just euphoria.

“We’ve got to come back now and put it together in the semi.”

Australia had looked dominant in the round-robin phase but they were made to earn their semi-final place by the Netherlands. The European Champions had been stung by defeats to Belgium and Germany on the other side of the draw and came ready to cause an upset, but it was Charter who stood tall against a raft of penalty corners and then in the shootout.

It had been 60 minutes of tense hockey from two powerhouse teams, playing true to their ethos.

Lachlan Thomas Sharp weaves his way through Robbert Kemperman and Jonas de Geus.Credit: Getty

Australia got their two goals from the field, even though they struggled to break down the Dutch, while the Netherlands scored from set-pieces.

Tom Wickham took his tally to five goals for the Olympics with another brace. He gave the Kookaburra the lead in the first and third quarters, only for the Netherlands to return serve.

Wickham opened the scoring after a goalmouth scramble following a Brand cross from the left in the 13th minute, lifting the ball into the net from close range. It was an advantage the Kookaburras maintained until half-time.

The Netherlands came out in the second half with new-found vigour and a Mink van der Weerden’s penalty corner conversion in the opening minute put them all square. The Dutch had Australia under pressure for the next six minutes but couldn’t find a goal.

Robbert Kemperman reacts after missing a penalty shot during the shootout for the Dutch.Credit: Getty

The Australian struggled to get their free-running game going against the Dutch, who were well-organised and defended in numbers.

But in the 38th minute, a swift transfer from the left side of midfield saw the ball find Brand on the right edge of the circle. His cross bounced through the circle with an unmarked Wickham arriving on the left post. He met it first-time from seven metres out and found the bottom-right corner of the backboard.

The Netherlands were never going to accept their fate and after a penalty corner rebound was stopped on its way into the net by the body of defender Lachie Sharp, the Dutch had a penalty stroke.

Jeroen Hertzberger stepped up and converted with 10 minutes remaining to set up a thrilling finish. Australia pressed for the winner but were denied on a couple of occasions to set up Charter’s heroics.

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