Kookaburras dominate but Spanish have last laugh

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Kookaburras dominate but Spanish have last laugh

The Kookaburras couldn’t convert any of their nine penalty corners and a clinical Spain made them pay in a shootout Pro League victory in Sydney.

Fresh off an upset of Olympic champions the Netherlands on Thursday, Australia’s regenerated outfit showed plenty of enterprise under new coach Mark Hager in front of a healthy crowd at the Olympic Park.

But they only had one Ky Willott goal to show for it, his third in as many Pro League games in Sydney coming after Spain’s Pau Cunill opened the scoring with a drag flick in the second term.

Davis Atkin had a chance to put Australia ahead but his close-range effort smacked into the post, shortly before the player himself clattered into the woodwork.

The hosts scrambled to fulltime at 1-1 with two players in the sin bin before Spain were faultless in a 3-0 shootout masterclass.

Cooper Burns and Craig Marais had possession swatted away by Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado before a spinning Connar Otterbach sent his effort wide.

Spain were ruthless, Kookaburras ‘keeper Mitch Nicholson helpless as Xavier Gispert calmly chipped his backstick effort into the top corner, Cunill holding his nerve and a spinning Marc Reyne doing what Otterbach couldn’t.

The result followed a 2-1 loss to Spain on Wednesday but offered plenty of upside considering only nine of the 22 who played in last year’s Paris Olympics quarter-final defeat remain.

Rookie Liam Henderson has been a standout in his first series, impressing with his ability to beat defenders and break lines.

Out to earn one of the few remaining full-time spots in Hager’s 2025 squad, forward Jack Welch’s workrate was rewarded with an intercept that led to the Willott goal.

“I’m enjoying every minute,” Willott said.

“The eight debutants are doing unreal so far and they’re soaking it up with Mark Hager at the helm; it’s been really enjoyable.”

The Hockeyroos, who have won both games against Spain and China this week, are still to play in Sydney on Saturday night.

The Kookaburras complete their Sydney duties against the Netherlands on Sunday before the Pro League moves to Argentina, for Tests against the host nation and Belgium, later this month.

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