London Olympics hockey: Netherlands hammer Britain 9-2; set to play final with Germany

London: Nippy striker Billy Bakker and penalty corner shooter Roderick Weusthof scored three goals each as Netherlands stormed into the final of the London Olympic 2012 men`s hockey with a thumping 9-2 victory over hosts Great Britain.

Netherlands, bronze medallists in the 2010 World Cup, played a brisk overlapping game to hammer six goals in the second session to silence a vociferous home crowd last night and earn a title contest with defending champions Germany, who outplayed World Cup holders Australia 4-2 in the semifinals. Weusthof, who opened the Netherlands scoring, scored on three penalty corners by breaching Great Britain`s defence with stinging shots in the ninth, 14th and 60th minutes, while Bakker scored all his goals in open field play in a the space of 18minutes as he fired on target in the 33rd, 45th and 51st minutes. Young penalty corner shooter Mink van der Weerden (21st minute), season midfielder Tuen de Nooijer (47th) and captain Floris Evers (48th) contibuted one goal each in the Dutch scoring spree. Great Britian, who were in the contest in the first half, got their goals from Ashley Jackson in the 18th minute and Robert Moore`s defelection five minutes from the end. The final between Netherlands and Germany will be tomorrow. Germany rallied twice from the arrears to knock out reigning World champions Australia in a replay of the 2010 World Cup final, but the result favoured the resolute Germans who matched Australia for pace and capitalised on the openings they created through their brisk pace. The Germans avenged their loss at the hands of Australia in the 2010 World Cup final. These two countries have contested the last three World Cup finals. Germany won in twice in 2002 and 2006, and Australia winning the title at New Delhi in 2010. Australia opened the account through Kieran Govers, who slammed in a rebound from the goalkeeper after Glenn Turner`s initial crack at the goal was blocked by custodian Max Weinhold in the 22nd minute. Germany equalised four minutes later on a penalty corner conversion by Moritz Fuerste, who sounded the boards with a low shot to the goalkeeper`s right. Australia went into a 2-1 lead seven minutes into the second half through when Glenn Turner picked up the ball from the goalkeeper`s feet to scoop into the goal after two earlier shots had been blocked by the custodian. Germany then came back with a three-goal spree that left Australia stunned. Matthias Witthaus picked up a long diagonal ball from the right on top of the circle and scored with a firm push into the boards for Germany to draw level in the 54th minute. Five minutes later, Timo Wess put the title holders in the lead with a firm penalty corner shot after the ball was squared to him. Wess was the architect of Germany`s fourth goal just seven minutes from the hooter when he sent a defence-splitting cross from left into the circle and Florin Fuchs put the match beyond Australia`s reach with his lunging shot that sounded the boards and Germany`s advance to the title contest. PTI