ROTTERDAM (The Netherlands), June 27: Australia moved atop the table of the men’s field hockey Champions Trophy alongside Spain and Argentina after notching up a 3-1 win over Germany here on Thursday.

In the day’s other game, South Korea scored a shock 4-3 win over the Netherlands.

Australia effectively shut Germany out of their match with a moving press which stymied most counter-attacks.

Australian Jamie Dwyer was in top form, scoring his side’s first early in the opening period by deflecting a quickly taken free hit outside the circle into the goal.

Germany’s Florian Keller became the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals by converting his side’s third penalty corner.

The Germans were unable to capitalise on the separate yellow-cardings of Australian duo Luke Doerner and Eddie Ockenden.

Dwyer then had a goal disallowed by the video umpire but Australia responded with breaks through midfield to rip apart Germany’s defence and create four chances with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Fergus Kavanagh and Ockenden scored from two of the chances set up by Mark Knowles and Dwyer while Travis Brooks fluffed his chance, failing to get a shot on goal.

Australia coach Barry Dancer saw three positives in Australia’s performance: “Our defence, pressing and counter-attacks were good but we need to improve our finishing when we have only the goalkeeper to beat.

“Although we had one player in suspension for 15 minutes we responded well as a team in terms of the collective effort and I was pleased with our structure and organisation during that time,” Dancer said.

German coach Markus Weise said his team lost because they had not followed his tactical plan.

“The first half was really bad for us as the players did not stick to the tactical plan,” Weise said.

“The second half was a little better but we did not have the mental ability to react to Australia or to capitalise on the suspensions they incurred. The score could have been 5-2 against us with all the chances Australia had.”

Korea’s first win of the event was based on a fast-moving second half wearing the Dutch down.

Teun de Nooijer deflected in Netherlands first goal and Korea replied with a penalty corner by Jong Hyun Jang late in the first half, followed within minutes by a field goal to Korea captain Jong Ho Seo.

Roderick Weusthof’s penalty corner conversion got the Dutch back in the match and Ronald Brouwer’s field goal off a pass from his cousin Matthijs had the hosts 3-2 up early in the second half.

But Korea exploited the tiring Dutchmen by putting on an extra striker, forced a penalty stroke, converted with a looping scoop into the top of the net by Woon Kon Yeo.

Korea forced a penalty corner in the last minutes and Jang converted for the winner.—AFP