The Kookaburras are into the grand final of the Hockey World League Final after a tough 3-2 semi-final win over defending champions the Netherlands.
Australia will now meet either Belgium or host nation India in the gold-medal match on Monday morning AEDT.
"It wasn't pretty but we got there in the end," Kookaburras head coach Graham Reid said after the win in Raipur on Saturday morning AEDT.
"I'm happy with the result but there's lots for us to learn."
World No.1-ranked Australia began the match with speed and intensity, just as they had in their quarter-final against Olympic champions Germany.
Dylan Wotherspoon's calm close-range finish from Jamie Dwyer's pass across the circle in the eighth minute came after the Kookaburras had already missed several opportunities.
Dwyer, playing his 350th match for Australia, also had a hand in Daniel Beale's goal midway through the second quarter.
The 36 year-old's diving deflection was blocked by Dutch keeper Jaap Stockmann, but the ball fell into the path of Beale, who knocked home his third goal of the tournament.
A stirring four-minute period either side of half time saw the Netherlands storm back into contention as Constantijn Jonker and then Mirco Pruijser struck.
But Matt Gohdes' winning goal came in the 42nd minute when another deflection eluded the outstretched left foot of man-of-the-match Stockmann.
The Netherlands, ranked No.2 in the world, threw everything at the Kookaburras in search of another equaliser but Australia held firm, including denying the Dutch from three consecutive penalty corners.
Share
