Australia beat Great Britain 3-1 in Hockey World League

Australia moved through to the final of the Hockey World League tournament after defeating Great Britain 3-1 in Antwerp on Friday evening.

Australia took their chances with goals from Blake Govers, Daniel Beale and Jacob Whetton, while a sole goal from Nick Catlin wasn't enough for Great Britain.

Great Britain were solid in possession early on and starved Australia of opportunities through a composed defensive display. Australia, the number one team in the world, were denied by the woodwork early on before Blake Govers scored the Kookaburras' first off a penalty corner. 

Jamie Dwyer almost doubled Australia's lead after pouncing on a loose ball in the circle, only for goalkeeper George Pinner to make a save with his glove. 

With nine minutes left in the quarter, Great Britain drew level when Catlin rounded Matthew Swann and found the bottom corner with a strong reverse-stick finish.

A defensive slip gifted the Kookaburras a chance and Jacob Whetton set up Daniel Beale, who hit the net to make it 2-1 and the Kookaburras extended their advantage further when Whetton turned in Dwyer's cross to make it 3-1.

Great Britain defender Dan Fox said Australia had capitalised on his side's errors. 

"The game gave us a funny situation really," he said. "We're delighted to have secured Olympic qualification in the last game, but this group wants to get to finals so we're very disappointed to miss out tonight.

"Against a high pressing side like Australia, errors will always be punished.

"Sides like them seize on the smallest mistakes and that was the difference today."

Great Britain head coach Bobby Crutchley said his team had done well to resist an Australian side that started the game at "100 miles an hour".

"We defended well for the most part but the second and third goals were sloppy which is frustrating when we’d worked so hard to get back level," Crutchley said.

"Overall we didn't create enough and that's something we need to get better at. We need to be more of a threat going forwards to win against sides like them."

Australia will now face Belgium in the final, while Great Britain will regroup and face India in the third place play-off.

The greatest upset of the tournament came courtesy of Ireland, who recorded a shock 1-0 win over Pakistan. The result means Pakistan have failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in the country's hockey history. 

Great Britain, though, have qualified for the 2016 Games in Rio, despite the loss to Australia. A tense quarter-final win over Pakistan on Friday, combined with India's win over Malaysia, meant GB had secured an Olympic place regardless of the result against the Kookaburras.

Great Britain's women have also booked their place in Rio after recording seven wins from seven games in their World League tournament in Spain last month.