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Australian men inflicted a 4-0 defeat on South Korea to win the four-match hockey Test series 2-1 at the Perth Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
The Kookaburras started on an aggressive note, with Trent Milton nearly missing the target inside the first five minutes.
The hosts soon forced back-to-back penalty corners but failed to profit from them. Their first half dominance hardly showed as both teams were tied goalless at half-time.
Australia wasted another PC in the 52nd minute but soon made up for all the slip-ups upfront when Trent Milton scored in the 54th minute following some nice work in the ‘D’ by Chris Bausor.
Comeback man Russell Ford made it 2-0 two minutes later when he slammed home after the Korean goalie had made a save.
Kieren Govers, returning to the side after his club commitments in Europe, converted a short corner in the 61st minute to make it 3-0.
Rob Hammond scored Australia’s fourth goal as the home side turned things around in the final seventeen minutes of play.
South Korea had won the first Test 4-1 in penalty shootout after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time.
Several experienced Aussie players, including Jamie Dwyer, missed the target as the Asian giants converted all their four shots to clinch the issue.
Australia came out firing in the second Test.
Local boy Trent Milton pulled off a superb hat-trick as the Kookaburras thumped the Redshirts 5-2.
South Korea then took the upper hand in the third Test and were denied a much deserved win by a late equalizer from Matt Williams, who made his senior international debut in the ongoing four-match Test series.
It may be worth recalling that the Perth Hockey Stadium had recently hosted the four-match Test series between the South Korea and Australian women.
The series ended with both team sharing the honours, winning two matches apiece.
The Hockeyroos won the opening Test 4-2 before the South Koreans won the second Test 2-1.
Australia clinched the third Test 6-0 before South Korea won the final Test 3-1.
South Korean men would travel to New Zealand later this month to play in a six-match Test series beginning May 14.
The series will run till May 22.
The first Test will be played on May 14.
The second Test will be played on May 16.
The third and fourth Tests will be played on May 18 and 19, while the fifth and sixth Tests will be played on May 21 and 22.
The six-match Test series will be New Zealand team’s final preparatory tournament before the FIH Hockey World League semifinals to be held in June this year.
