Raipur: Reigning World champions Australia will meet current European and HWL champions the Netherlands in the competition semi-finals after the Kookaburras powered to a 4-1 win over Germany at the Hero Hockey World League Final in Raipur, India.

Clinical strikes Jeremy Hayward and Jamie Dwyer gave the Kookaburras a 2-0 lead over the reigning Olympic champions at the end of the first quarter, while Germany wasted a big chance to reduce the deficit early in the second period when Oscar Deecke saw his penalty stroke saved by Australia’s Andrew Charter. It was a costly miss, with Australia taking a 3-0 lead into half time thanks to Matthew Dawson’s low, accurate penalty corner drag-flick.

Germany threatened a comeback when 2013 FIH Young Player of the Year Christopher Rühr volleyed home in the third quarter, but Glenn Turner added a fourth late on after Die Honamas replaced goalkeeper Nico Jacobi with an outfield player in an attempt to rescue the game.

“The Germans are a great team and historically it is always a tough match between Australia and Germany”, said Kookaburras defender Matthew Swann after the match. “When we get the chance to play them we always want to play our best, and we were happy to get away with a win. It could have been a lot closer but our defenders were really desperate in the circle and it made it very hard for them.”

Hero Man of the Match: Tim Deavin (AUS)