Umpires:
 

GOALS

The Australians fought their way into the World Cup final with a 4:2 win against surprise semi-finalists Korea. Australia had the upper hand through most of the closely-matched and exciting game, though Korea remained a constant threat on the counter attack.

As with the last pool match, Korea stayed deep within their own half to safe guard their own goal. Australia advanced slowly, with patient combination passes but they struggled to find openings in the Korean defence.

Korea found their first chance in the 8th minute, the reverse hit by Hyo Sik You putting keeper, Mowlam, to the test. The Australians responded immediately with shot on goal by Livermore after a free hit on the edge of the D. In the minutes that followed, Australia managed to create a number of openings in the Korean defence, but it was the Koreans who found the next big Opportunity to score, Yeo receiving a pass from You in front of the goal though his shot went wide to the right.

Despite Australia maintaining much of the possession, it was the Koreans who, surprisingly, went into half time in the lead after a third short corner for Korea taken by Jong Hyun Jang.

Australia came charging out of the locker rooms with a goal from their first, if contraversial, short corner in the 38th minute. After a miss-hit pass in, the ball found Bevan George at the right post who jumped up to knock it over the line.

Korea did not appear startled, but pressed on. Just 3 minutes after the equaliser, Seong Jung Kang dribbled into the right of the D, along the backline and passed a cheeky flick over the keeper Mowlan and into the goal.

Australia saw 3 short corners come and go in the middle of the second half, before finally converting the fourth in the 51st minute, Travis Brooks with the deflection into the goal.

Australia took the lead for the first time just 10 minutes before the end. Knowles' free hit from right on the quarter line passed clear through the D, past forwards and defenders alike before dwyer managed to reach it at the far post, taking the score to 3:2.

With the seconds ticking away, Korea took to the offensive more and more and yet Australia still created the better scoring opportunities. Two such opportunities saw both Elder and Dwyer just missing their targets.

It all came down to the last minute. Korea put everything into their attack, only for George to pick up the ball in midfield. George passed right to Brooks, who passed back left to McCann who had no problem finding the goal from just 8 meters back.

This victory was , overall, a well deserved win for Australia. Despite stuggling at times to penetrate the Korean defence , the well rounded and well structured performance by the Australian team was, ultimately, what saw them through. The Koreans, already surprise contenders for the final, did indeed have their chances to go through, twice taking the lead, but this evening their luck ran out. Whether it's Germany or Spain who Australia face in the final, their performance today showed that they are true contenders for the this year's title.