Dutch stun Australia, clinch title

KUALA LUMPUR: The Netherlands routed Olympic Champions Australia 6-2 to lift their first ever Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in style here on Sunday.

The Dutch, ranked third in the world, were in top form and lead from start to keep total domination of the game.

The Australians, bidding for their third straight Cup, were a pale shadow of the team that whipped New Zealand 7-1 in the semi-finals.

"It is always good to win a title, and for us winning it for the first time is an achievement. I was surprised at the scoreline considering we played the best team in the world," Dutch coach Roelant Altmans said.

Just six months ago the Australians had beaten the Dutch twice in the Chennai 2005 Champions Trophy. But the Dutch had all the answers to counter the Australian game plan in a match that was expected to be a close affair.

Roderick Weustof, the top scorer (five goals) of the tournament, found the net three times in the sixth, 48th and 66th minutes.

Taeke Taekema scored a penalty corner in the 23rd minute while Teun de Nooijer, man-of-the-match in the final, scored in the 42nd minute.

The other goal came through Ronald Brouwer in the 52nd minute. Matt Naylor and Russel Ford put the Australians on the board in the 60th and 66th minutes.