Australia slam Cuba for a six

Australia hammed newcomers Cuba for a six to chalk up their fourth successive victory in Pool B in the men’s hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.

After the 6-0 win, Australia are the only team to win all four matches so far in the tournament though Korea could emerge with the success record after their match against Malaysia later in the day.

It was the first meeting in international hockey between the two team, and, as expected, the Aussies were comfortable winners. The 1986 champions started with a bang, scoring through Paul Gaudoin in the third minute from their first penalty-corner.

The Cubans defended stoutly, but the pressure was too much to handle as Australia scored again from their fourth penalty-corner in the 15th minute. This time Craig Victory's reverse hit brooked no answer from goalkeeper Yeol Gomez Arguilar, who had till then restricted the scoring with some smart saves.

The Aussies relaxed and went into the breather 2-0 up.

In the second session, despite the slow pace they set, Australa added four more goals. And had it not been for a gallant display by 'keeper Arguilar, the hapless Cubans may have ended up with a dozen in the kitty.

Craig Victory made it 3-0 five minutes after the breather from a penalty-corner, before Paul Gaudoin could score from Australia's 10th penalty-corner, after Mathew Wells's hit rebounded off the keeper to him.

Michael McCann scored Australia’s fifth goal in the 66th minute with a deflection off a cross from the right while Mathew Smith completed the rout a minute from time, when he neatly reverse sticked the ball past Arguilar into goal.

Mail Sports Editor