Australia in Champions Trophy final

Former champions Australia made sure of a place in the final of the men's Champions Trophy hockey tournament, beating Olympic silver medallists Korea 5-3 in their concluding match of the six-team league in Rotterdam on Saturday.

Australia, who needed a victory in their last match to make it to the title match on Sunday, will meet Germany, who had already booked a place on Wednesday after registering their fourth consecutive victory.

Germany won its fifth match today, beating the Netherlands 3-2. In other play, Pakistan crushed England 6-3.

Pakistan climbed to the third spot and will play for the bronze against the Netherlands on Sunday.

Sydney Olympic silver medalist South Korea- which is last with zero points from five matches- gets a chance to save its reputation against England.

Australia opened the scoring in 20th minute thorugh Craig Victory, but the Koreans drew level in 34th minute through Woon Kon Yeo.

Both the teams were tied 1-1 at half-time.

The second half saw the Australians pumping in three quick goals. Adam Commens scored the second goal in 36th minute. Then Troy Elder struck twice in 40th and 50th minutes to give Australia a 4-1 lead.

Korea scored their second goal in 55th minute through Jong Hyun Hwang. But the Australians consolidated their lead in the 67th minute through Scott Webster.

Kim reduced the margin to 3-5 for Korea a minute later, but that was all they could come up with.

In the second match of the day, Germany maintained their unbeaten record, beating the Netherlands 3-2.

The Germany won rather easily despite playing at a relaxed pace. With Australia assuring themselves of a final berth after beating Korea in the earlier match, the Netherlands looked demoralised.

Germany went ahead in the third minute through Bjorn Michel and then added another goal immediately after the breather through Sascha Reinelt. Taekema Taeke pulled one back for the hosts in the 47th minute but Florian Kunz scored for Germany 10 minutes later. Three minutes from time, the Netherlands made it 2-3 through Karel Klaver.

Australia last won a Champions Trophy two years ago, on the home soil, in Brisbane.

Tournament leader Germany is European Champion and clinched the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in August, but the team hasn't won a major title since the 1997 Champions Trophy in Australia.

Although Australia lost its first match in the tournament to Germany just a week ago (2-1), coach Barry Dancer said he is " very hopeful" about the finals.

"We have reset our targets to winning the finals," Dancer said. "We have a very good chance."

The current standings

Country	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Germany	5	5	0	0	15	7	8	15
Australia	5	4	0	1	15	10	5	12
Pakistan	5	2	1	2	14	12	+2	7
Netherland	5	2	1	2	11	11	0	7
England	5	1	0	4	11	17	-6	3
Korea	5	0	0	5	8	17	-9	0

Complete Coverage: 23rd Men's Champions Trophy 2001