Australia did their chances of a semi-final prospect no harm as they brushed aside Spain in an important Pool B match.

By Rajarshi Gupta
 
There was no flurry of goals that saw South Africa soak in 12 goals but the Australians were clinical enough to inflict a 2-0 defeat on Spain on Saturday at the National Stadium in New Delhi.
 
The Kookaburras surged ahead in the 20th minute via a penalty corner, which was deftly converted by Like Doerner. The second goal of the match came in 60th minute from Glenn Turner.
 
Both sides got off to an aggressive start in the first half, often indulging in unfair play. Aussie defender Graeme Begbie shockingly tackled a sprinting Pol Amot, and was lucky to get away with just a green card. The Spaniards failed to convert a resulting penalty corner.
 
Australia, ranked number two in the world, had their moments of blemishes after Grant Schubert made a mess of a neat ball by Mark Knowles in the fourth minute. 

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However, the Aussies made amends in the 20th minute when Doerner converted the first of their two penalty corners, his seventh goal of the tournament.
 
Despite all their efforts, Spain could not convert as many as eight penalty corners through the match. Australia did not look very convincing defending their own circle but the difference between two teams was their ability to finish.
 
The Spanish almost equalised seconds before the first hooter, but striker Eduard Tubau missed the target by a whisker.
 
The Spaniards strode out with a lot more purpose but were unable to make any inroads against a determined Aussie defence, missing out on two penalty corners in the process in the 48th and 49th minutes.
 
Australia were served with a chance to stretch their lead to two goals but wasted their second penalty corner of the match, in the 45th minute.
 
However, Turner assured the Antipodeans of their third successive win in the tournament, sounding the board in the 60th minute, all but sealing the deal for the Aussies in the crucial Pool B match.
 
Spain are now almost certain of an early exit from the World Cup after their second defeat in four games.

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