Australia in final of Champions Trophy hockey

Auckland: Australia beat the Netherlands 4-2 on Thursday to reach the final of the Champions Trophy men's field hockey tournament, moving one step closer to becoming the first team to win four consecutive titles.

Matt Gohdes scored two goals, and his cousin, Australian captain Jamie Dwyer, and Chris Ciriello each had a goal for Australia. Dwyer's goal was his seventh of the tournament and his 25th in Champions Trophy play.

Australia has accumulated enough points to reach the final of the elite, eight-team tournament for a record 13th time even though they still have one match yet to play against New Zealand on Saturday.

Spain beat New Zealand 3-2 on Thursday and will now play the Netherlands for the other spot in the final.

Meanwhile, Pakistan thumped South Korea 6-2 to post their first win of the Champions Trophy on Thursday, while Germany scored a last-gasp winner against Great Britain.

Pakistan came from behind to snap a three-game losing streak at the last major men's tournament before the London Olympics, with captain Muhammad Imran and Abdul Khan both notching a brace.

Imran proved the inspiration for a Pakistan fightback after Lee Nam-Yong's seventh minute goal gave Korea the lead, with the skipper converting a penalty corner after 15 minutes to put the Green Shirts on the board.

Khan followed up with a field goal one minute later and from there Pakistan looked assured, holding their nerve when Korea equalised and sealing the win with a four-goal burst in the final 10 minutes.

The win keeps alive Pakistan's hopes of securing fifth place in the eight-nation event, which would guarantee a spot at next year's competition in Argentina.

In the other Pool D match, Germany overcame Britain 2-1, thanks to a last-minute penalty conversion from captain Jan-Marco Montag.

Britain, looking to restore some pride after an 8-1 mauling from Spain on Tuesday, began nervously, conceding a goal to Martin Zwicker after four minutes.

Glenn Kirkham put Britain on level terms mid-way through the first half and the German defence came under intense pressure after the break.

But Germany finished stronger and were awarded two penalty corners in the final minute, the second of which Montag flicked into the net over the top of British keeper James Fair.