Captain Jamie Dwyer scored a hat-trick as world champions Australia launched their Olympic Games men’s hockey campaign with a thumping 6-0 victory over South Africa on Monday.
Dwyer’s three strikes helped him equal the Australian record of 179 international goals held by Mark Hager, who is coach of the New Zealand team at these Olympics.
Dwyer was instrumental in earning both penalty strokes that he went on to convert and also scored on a penalty corner as Australia outplayed South Africa in the Pool A match.
Australia fired four goals in the second session to outpace South Africa, while Asian Games winners South Korea earlier held off a late New Zealand charge to post a 2-0 win in Pool B.
Dwyer opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a penalty stroke after he was brought down by a defender inside the circle.
Dwyer then set up the second Australian goal two minutes before half-time with a pass that Matthew Butturini deflected in.
Christopher Ciriello converted a penalty corner in the 46th minute before Dwyer fired in a penalty corner in the 48th and then forced another penalty stroke that he converted in the 58th.
Glenn Turner rounded off the Australian scoring with a field goal in the 62nd minute.
You Hyo-Sik scored two field goals for South Korea against New Zealand.
‘I’m excited about scoring twice as I’ve been waiting for a goal on the international stage for a long time,’ said You, who deflected diagonal crosses past New Zealand goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex.
New Zealander Simon Child wasted an early scoring opportunity by shooting wide before You put South Korea ahead in the 19th minute by capitalising on a diagonal ball from Kang Moon-Kyu. You again found the target one minute before half-time on a pass from Jang Jong-Hyun.
Earlier on Sunday, defending champions The Netherlands eased to a 3-0 win over Belgium and World Cup holders Argentina crushed South Africa 7-1 on the opening day of Olympic women’s field hockey.
New Zealand pulled off a 1-0 victory over former champions Australia, while hosts Great Britain hammered Japan 4-0.
Germany clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the United States and China outplayed South Korea 4-0.