Jansen stars, Holland stun Australia in semis

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Sydney: goal-keeper Ronald Jansen brought off a spectacular save in the tie-breaker as Holland stunned hosts Australia to set up a clash with South Korea for the men's Olympic hockey gold.

Holland beat Australia 5-4 in the tie-breaker after the two teams were locked goalless during the regulation time and 15 minutes of extra time. Jansen was the hero for Holland as he used his reflexes to block Brent Livermore's powerful push.

Interestingly, Holland and Korea were on the verge of elimination in the league round itself but Britain and Poland did them favours by upsetting Germany and India respectively.

Australia have won all the major titles except the Olympic gold. They have played in the Olympic finals thrice, but a gold has eluded them. Luck deserted them at the crucial time on Thursday also.

The ''Kookaburras'' as the Australians are known had prepared well for this Olympics but 25-year-old midfielder Brent Livermore spoiled their party failing with his stroke.

Both the teams were involved in a high voltage 70-minute goalless encounter and even the 15 minute extra time failed to break the deadlock resulting in the penalty shootout.

For the Atlanta gold medallist, all the five players - Bram Lomans, Wouter Van Pelt, Piet-Hein Geeris, Stephen Veens and Marten Eikelboom - who took the strokes were right on target giving no chance to Australian goal-keeper Damon Diletti.

For Australia it went smoothly till the first four strokes as Michael Brennan, Troy Elder, Adam Commens and James Elmer beat Jansen with ease. But, Brent Livermore, coming in to convert with Australia trailing 4-5, could not keep his nerve and his push was superbly palmed off by Jansen and with that the hosts' aspirations and hopes went up in thin air.

UNI