Highlights Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017 final, Australia vs Great Britain, hockey score and updates: GB beat AUS to win title

FINAL POSITIONS AT THE AZLAN SHAH CUP:

1. GREAT BRITAIN

2. AUSTRALIA

3. INDIA

4 NEW ZEALAND

5. MALAYSIA

6. JAPAN

WITH THIS WIN, GB SEND A WARNING TO OTHER TEAMS AT THE WORLD LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS THAT THEY ARE BACK AND CAPABLE OF WINNING TITLES. AUSTRALIA, A LOT TO INTROSPECT AFTER THIS AND FOR THEIR FANS, HOPEFULLY, COLIN BATCH BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE TOP AGAIN.

GB IS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TEAM AFTER THE NETHERLANDS IN 2006 TO WIN THE SULTAN AZLAN SHAH CUP.

SO FOR GB IT’S TWO FINALS AND TWO TROPHIES. THAT’S A HUNDRED PERCENT RECORD.

GREAT BRITAIN HAS STUNNED THE WORLD CHAMPIONS AND REIGNING AZLAN SHAH CHAMPIONS 4-3. AUSSIES LOSE THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MATCH. YESTERDAY THEY LOST TO JAPAN 3-2 AND TODAY GB HAS BEATEN THEM TO THE PRESTIGIOUS AZLAN SHAH CUP.

GB HAS WON THE SULTAN AZLAN SHAH TOURNAMENT 4-3. THEY HAVE WON IT AFTER 23 YEARS. AUSTRALIA HAVE LOST THE FINAL.

AUSTRALIA WIN THE REFERRAL. NO PC TO GB. MATCH STILL ON. GB LEAD 4-3 WITH UNDER 2 MINS LEFT.

WITHOUT A GOALKEEPER, AUSTRALIA HAVE CONCEDED A PC. BUT ASK FOR A REFERRAL. UNDER 2 MINS LEFT.

AUSTRALIA HAVE PULLED OFF GOALKEEPER CHARTER. AUSSIES PUSHING IN EVERYTHING FOR THE EQUALISER.

GB SAVES. THEY LEAD 4-3. UNDER THREE MINUTES LEFT.

AUSTRALIA HAVE THEIR 6TH PC. UNDER 4 MINS LEFT. CAN THEY SCORE?

Australia desperate now. But GB is playing very steady. Holding and keeping possession. They know if they keep the ball away from the Aussies, precious seconds would be eaten up. (04:49, 4th Q)

WITH AROUND 8 MINS LEFT, GB LEAD 4-3. CAN THEY HOLD ON?

Australia’s goalkeeper Charter is back. The Aussies revert back to their usual formation. They are still attacking. GB has to scramble to clear. (09:08, 4th Q)

GB TRIED AN INDIRECT CONVERSION. FAILED. IT’S 4-3 TO GB WITH 11 MINUTES LEFT.

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GB. THEY HAVE THEIR 2ND PC.

AND AUSTRALIA PLAYING WITHOUT A GOALKEEPER HAS PULLED ONE BACK. DYLAN WOTHERSPOON HAS SCORED. IT’S 3-4 TO AUSTRALIA. (12:16, 4TH Q)

The third quarter is on. Australia is still without their goalkeeper. They are pushing hard. Just 15 minutes between them and a comeback to equalise first and then find a match-winner. But GB is tough today. Playing superb hockey, they have given the Australians a run for their money. GB lead 4-2. (13:17, 4th Q)

END OF THE 3RD QUARTER. GB LEADS 4-2.

Australia pull of their goalkeeper as they were down to ten men. Andrew Charter the GK is off. The Australians are looking to pull one goal back before the 3rd quarter ends.

It was actually a superb piece of work by Alan Forsyth who did an almost 360 degree turn before pushing the ball for Goodfield. GB lead 4-2. (00:42, 3rd Q)

WHAT A GOAL!!! DAVID GOODFIELD FLICKS IT OVER THE GOALKEEPER AS GB LEAD 4-2. (01:55, 3RD Q)

GB is not just defending. They attacked and almost got the fourth. But the shot didn’t have power and neither was there a player to pick up the cross. (03:55, 3rd Q)

Australia have opened up the game. Instead of the flanks, they cut through the middle. That’s GB’s weak link at the moment. The World Champions have increased the pace. Can GB last this quarter without conceding another one? (06:07, 3rd Q)

THIS QUARTER IS TURNING OUT TO BE A THRILLER. AUSTRALIA HAVE CAMPED IN THE GB HALF. THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR THE EQUALISER. IT’S GB LEADING 3-2. (08:31, 3RD Q)

AND AUSTRALIA PULL ONE BACK RIGHT AWAY. IT’S DYLAN WOTHERSPOON AND JOSHUA POLLAR SLIDES IN AND BANGS IT AWAY. IT’S 2-3 TO AUSTRALIA. (10:08, 3RD Q)

GB GET THE THIRD. ANOTHER STUNNING GOAL, A LOVELY THROUGH AND OLLIE WILLARS PUSHES IT THROUGH. GB LEAD 3-1. (11:21, 3RD Q)

Teams are back on the pitch. 3rd quarter to start. GB leads 2-1. This will be a crucial quarter. If GB get one more, they can expect to hold off Australia. But an equaliser from Australia will push them to the title.

GB have had their chances in the 2nd quarter. Under huge pressure from the Aussies, GB are fighting back. The Australian goal was a result of some slack GB defending. In fact, Harry Gibson, did get a glove on the ball but the alert Eddie picked up the rebound and tapped it in.

AT THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER, GB LEAD 2-1. AUSTRALIA PULLED ONE BACK THROUGH EDDIE OCKENDEN. IT WILL BE A BRUISING 3RD AND 4TH QUARTER.

AUSTRALIA HAVE PULLED ONE BACK. IT’S 1-2 TO AUSTRALIA. EDDIE OCKENDEN IS THE SCORER. MATCH ON NOW. GB WILL BE UNDER PRESSURE.

GB has only one PC, from which they scored. Australia have had five and no goals to show for it. (03:27, 2nd Q)

Australia get their 5th PC. This is the time to pull one back. Can they? They don’t. Australia are poor in their stopping and give the initiative away to GB in the defence. (04:22, 2nd Q)

Much tighter defence by the Aussies now but they are still troubled by the speed of the British strikers especially Alan Forsyth, who has been in the thick of matters inside the Aussie D. (Arasu, 06:01, 2nd Q)

Great defending by GB on the line and then the aerial ball takes the danger away. GB is playing very tight. Strong defence, packed midfield and looking for the counter-attack. (08:57, 2nd Q)

It’s 2-0 to GB. They are playing with three forwards upfront. Australia are leaving a few gaps at the back in their search of goals. Australia know if GB get an opportunity, they will whack it in. That’s the advantage of taking an early 2-0 lead. (11:15, 2nd Q)

That was slipshod work from the Aussies. It’s not a clean stop but Matt Dawson still tries but the GB defence pulls the ball away. (12:57, 2nd Q)

2nd quarter to begin now. GB leads 2-0 and are in control of the match in this Azlan Shah Final. Australia are fighting back and it wouldn’t be surprising if they pull one back now. And AUS have their 4th PC.

Correction on the scorer there for GB. It’s David Goodfield who scored for GB. GB lead 2-0 after the 1st quarter.

And Australia get their 1st PC of the match. It leads to a second PC. It’s a 3rd PC now as GB save. GB leads 2-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.

AFTER A BOUT OF PASSING BETWEEN FIVE PLAYERS, MATTHEW WILLIS POUNCED AND TAPPED THE BALL IN. GB LEAD 2-0 (01:52, 2ND Q)

GB get their 1st PC of the match.

AND AN INDIRECT CONVERSION GIVES THEM GOAL NUMBER 2. GB LEAD 2-0. THIS IS A STUNNER.

This has come against the run of play. GB opened up the midfield, pulled the Aussie defence away and Alan scored a stunning goal.

AND GB TAKE THE LEAD WITH A STUNNING STRIKE. PHIL ROPER’S BALL AND ALAN FORSYTH’S HIT LEAVES THE AUSSIE GK BEATEN. GB LEAD 1-0. (06:51, 1ST Q)

GB have their first move through the middle but the Aussies manage to keep them away.

In their earlier league match, Australia had beaten GB 2-1. (09:03, 1st Q)

After a brisk start, things settling down now. Gb will look to keep possession and ensure Australia don’t use their usual pace to break down defences.

Australia are looking for their 10th title while Great Britain their first since 1994. It was the team from England that won this tournament 23 years ago. Arasu, 12:06, 1st Q)

Australia are the World Champions and the reigning Azlan Shah Champions. GB is building itself up again after a 9th place at the Rio Olympics. At the 2014 WC, GB had finished 4th.

Australia into the attack right away and come close to taking the lead. But GB should have a tight defence.

And there we go – Australia in yellow/green and GB in red/white. This should be a good final. Both teams raring to start the 2017 season on a winning note.

Teams ready to come on now. GB knows they have a huge task. Stopping this Aussie side will take some work from GB. Maybe, GB coach, Bob Crutchley, would have looked at the Japan Vs Aus video and seen something that Japan did and beat the Aussies. Teams almost ready to walk in for the National Anthem.

At the moment, three players are on the top of the scorers list – Mandeep Singh (INDIA), Tom Craig (AUS) and Trent Mitton (AUS) with five goals each. If Craig or Mitton score, then Australia can walk away with the top scorer.

The 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Final about to start in a few minutes. Both teams are still on the pitch. It should be a good game. The World Champions Australia will try and make amends after their bruising 2-3 loss to Japan. Great Britain in the final for the first time after 1994 when the tournament was played in Penang. GB then playing as England had won the final. Will they be able to stop the reigning champions Australia?

The man-of-the-match award goes to Rupinder Pal Singh for his two goals; both coming off penalty corners.

In the league match, India had beaten New Zealand 3-0 and today they have gone one better with a 4-0 scoreline. They must surely wonder what happened in the match against Malaysia which they lost 0-1 and lost an opportunity of entering the Azlan Shah final.

But it’s a good comeback for the Indian side. They will leave the tournament with a fluent win and a bronze medal.

INDIA HAVE WON THEIR 7TH AZLAN SHAH BRONZE MEDAL. THEY BEAT NEW ZEALAND 4-0. FOR INDIA, RUPINDER PAL SINGH SCORED (2), SV SUNIL AND TALWINDER SINGH.

GREAT TURN BY BY TALWINDER SINGH AND HIS REVERSE HIT GIVES INDIA A 4-0 LEAD. 40 SECONDS LEFT.

With less than two minutes to go, rains have got heavy. India in sight of the bronze medal now. They lead 3-0.

India score another through Manpreet Singh. But New Zealand appeal for back stick and get the referral. India still lead 3-0 with three minutes left.

India leading 3-0 and threatening to score more. Rains are coming down now. Hopefully, they will see out the match and not stop play. (06:27, 4th Q)

THAT WAS ALMOST IN!! Lovely pass from Sardar to Harmanpreet whose cross into the circle is deflected superbly by Affan but the ball hits the upright. (08:12, 4th Q)

Birthday boy Sunil finally comes good in the tournament. It’s SV Sunil’s Birthday and what better way to than deflect in a beautiful goal. India lead 3-0. (10:30, 4th Q)

India dominating the match. But still need to close the game. They lead 2-0.

AND THEY GET THE THIRD. MANDEEP TAPS IN AND SV SUNIL DEFLECTS IT IN. IT’S SUNIL’S FIRST GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT. INDIA LEAD 3-0.

Teams are back on the pitch for the 4th and last quarter. If the Kiwis manage one goal, it would bring back the pressure on the Indian side. They need another goal to take the match away from the New Zealanders. (14:40, 4th Q)

THAT’S THE END OF THE 3RD QUARTER. INDIA LEAD 2-0. THEY HAD A FEW CHANCES BUT THE KIWI DEFENCE KEEP THEM AWAY.

Almost the end of the 3rd Quarter, India still lead 2-0. India playing safe and holding the ball. Without much space, they are not risking giving possession away to the Kiwis. (01:19, 3rd Q)

Pace picking up now. India switching positions in the front line fast and keeping the Kiwis defending as a unit. NZ has numbers at the back. India will need to switch on some skills to get through. India lead 2-0. (03:00, 3rd Q)

India have started the third quarter just as they have done the previous two, by attacking the Kiwi goal without much let-up. Arasu, (04:58, 3rd Q)

Good move from the midfield by India but they lose control in the NZ striking circle. At the moment, Kiwis are happy to keep possession and not let India build any attack. (06:20, 3rd Q)

At the moment, New Zealand is exerting pressure. India lead 2-0 and look to increase the lead. But at the moment, New Zealand hold sway in the midfield. (08:35, 3rd Q)

India can’t lessen the pace. The Kiwis are experienced enough to pull a few goals back. India needs to push through the midfield and ensure field goals or more penalty corners are taken. New Zealand rotating the ball; trying to pierce through the Indian defence. (10:16, 3rd Q)

Lovely move from India. Manpreet squares inside the Kiwi striking circle. Sumit picks up the ball and crosses but the Indian sticks are far from the ball. Sumit, the Junior World Cup Champion is having a great match. Defending and overlapping, he is a constant threat. (12:44, 3rd Q)

And there they go again in the 3rd quarter. India intent on scoring more to make the match safe and at least go home with a bronze. (14:23, 3rd Q)

Teams are back on the pitch for the 3rd quarter. Expect the Indians to increase the lead. Even New Zealand has been a threat on the right flank. But the Indian defence has been holding really well.

It’s perplexing. The way India is playing against New Zealand, one wonders what happened against Malaysia yesterday. India is not brilliant today. But the intent is to score goals. Even SV Sunil is making runs that has the Kiwis in all sorts of trouble. The Indian defence knows where they are and control the ball to create attacks through the middle. Where was this team against Malaysia?

THAT’S THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER. INDIA LEAD 2-0; BOTH GOALS COMING OFF RUPINDER PAL SINGH’S PENALTY CORNERS.

India lead 2-0 with a couple of minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Richard Joyce is having a great game for New Zealand but Rupinder’s flicks are fast and low. India have a good grip on the match and should increase the lead after the break. (01:34, 2nd Q)

Mandeep generates pace and earns India their 4th PC. Rupinder’s flick is stopped by Joyce’s stick. But leads to a 5th PC. AND RUPINDER SCORES HIS SECOND WITH ANOTHER LOW FLICK. INDIA LEAD 2-0. (03:00, 2ND Q)

Kiwis trying the aerial ball to clear away the Indian danger. But India trapping in the middle and going on the offensive.

New Zealand giving enough space in the middle to India who are exploiting it. Indian defending very well. Kiwis are trying to force their way through the right flank but Surender and Gurinder look sharp. (05:16, 2nd Q)

Talwinder, Sunil in tandem as Sunil’s cross into the striking circle finds no one in position. It’s Sunil again and this time Manpreet Singh cannot control it. India have the chances but can they convert and increase the lead? India lead 1-0. (08:01, 2nd Q)

That was a great effort by Rupinder Pal Singh. Low and fast, it gave no chance to Richard Joyce, the Kiwi goalkeeper. Expect the Kiwis to come hard now. India lead 1-0. (11:52, 2nd Q)

Great skills by Akashdeep and India have their 3rd PC of the match.

AND RUPINDER PAL SINGH HAS SCORED. LOW ON THE CARPET, IT’S BEATS THE NZ GK. INDIA LEAD 1-0. (13:22, 2ND Q)

The 2nd quarter starts. Crucial period this. Goals needed for this Indian side. They might have failed to reach the Azlan final. But a bronze medal would lift up morale. (14:00, 2nd Q)

END OF THE 1ST QUARTER. IT’S GOALLESS. INDIA FAILED TO PUT AWAY TWO CHANCES.

India doing their best to create moves. Pressure on New Zealand to defend. Complete contrast to what they played against Malaysia yesterday. But goals are needed in this game to restore some pride to this Indian side. (00:45, 1st Q)

WHAT A MISS BY MANDEEP SINGH!! Lovely cross by Manpreet Singh. Mandeep gets his stick on it but can’t control the ball going over the line. That was a chance wasted. (02:17, 1st Q)

Sardar, Harjeet and Sumit controlling the midfield. Sumit’s cross is missed by Talwinder who is not in line with the ball. (03:55, 1st Q)

Kiwis are intent on possession. India playing up trying to cut off the passes and pick up an attack. New Zealand’s Sam Lane’s stiff shot is saved by Akash Chikte. (05:45, 1st Q)

Manpreet Singh, the Indian captain, playing a little back. He is like the sweeper. Most of the Indians falling back to defend when New Zealand enter the Indian half. India playing through the right flank. They need to convert fast to put the pressure on the Kiwis. (08:14, 1st Q)

India is on the attack. Kiwis yet to enter the Indian half. But India will need to score early and take a grip on the match. After the dismal performance yesterday against Malaysia, they need to make amends. (10:33, 1st Q)

Great opportunity for Mandeep but the reverse hit is defended by Kiwi GK Richard Joyce. (12:02, 1st Q)

India earn their 1st PC of the match. And the umpire points to a second consecutive PC. But India fail as the Kiwis defend. (13:01, 1st Q)

The Bronze medal match between India and New Zealand has begun. In the league encounter, India beat New Zealand 3-0. Can they repeat the win today? (13:50, 1st Q)