Tokyo: Australia reached the semi-finals of the Putra hockey tournament after beating the Dutch in a dramatic penalty shootout in the sizzling conditions at the Tokyo Olympics, joining Germany who ordered the quarter-final victory over Argentina.
Australia won their clashes against the Netherlands after winning a 3-0 penalty, after the match ended in a 2-2 draw in ordinary playing time.
Kookaburras had hit twice in the game, thanks to a goal by Tom Wickham, but the Netherlands managed to equalize through a goal by Mink van der Wederer and Jeroen Hertzberger.
Australia will play Germany in their semi-finals on Tuesday after they ordered a 3-1 victory that was smooth over the Argentine Olympic champion that day.
Germany opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Lukas Windfeder defender fired a low and hard penalty angle on the left side of the goal, leaving Argentina goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi there was no chance to stop the ball.
Ten minutes entering the second half, the Germany added their superiority after playing another penalty corner with a beautiful variation that ended with Timm Herzbruch deflected a low bait from captain Tobias Hauke ​​into the goal.
At that time, Germany was a little remaining for fear of Argentina.
“It’s hot and hot-minded Argentina weather and we just want to stay calm and play our German style and I think we did that,” said Forward Christopher Ruhr.
“We have a game in our hands 60 minutes.
Play very mature by us.” Windfeder scored another goal again through the angle of the penalty, in the 48th minute, effectively securing a German place in the semi-finals and leaving Argentina with painful losses.
With eight minutes left to leave, Maico Casella Schuth scored from the penalty corner for Argentina, but they could not add their score.
Officers doubled the usual two-minute break between the quarters to allow players to cool from heat in the main tone of the Hoki Oi Stadium, which was sprayed with water during a part-time break to stay fast and smooth.
The victory gave German revenge on Argentina after being eliminated by them in the 2016 Rio Olympic semi-finals, when Germany had to be satisfied with bronze.
Argentine line-up in Tokyo still contains many names that bring their first Olympic gold medal country in Hockey in 2016: Pedro Ibarra, Agustin Mazzilli, Matias Rey and 42-year-old Vivaldi goalkeeper.