new zealand vs australia
– Photo: Social Media
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Defending champions Belgium and three-time winners Australia have made it to the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup. Australia defeated New Zealand and Belgium defeated Spain in the quarter-final match. Australia beat Spain 4-3 with Jeremy Hayward scoring twice from a penalty corner, while Belgium beat New Zealand 2-0. New Zealand defeated India in the cross over match.
Australia was successful in making it to the semi-finals for the 12th consecutive time in the World Cup. Australia won the World Cup in 1986, 2010 and 2014. They have made it to the semi-finals of every World Cup since 1978. Spain captain Marc Miralles made a blunder in the quarter-finals that shattered the team’s hopes of progressing further. He failed to convert a penalty stroke four minutes before the final hooter. At that point Spain was trailing 3-4. Had he converted the penalty stroke, the match could have gone to a penalty shootout.
