SPORTS
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Pakistan oust England to set up Aussies final clash
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3/25/2006
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MELBOURNE, March 24 (AFP): Olympic champions Australia will clash with Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games men's field hockey final after dramatic semi-final wins here Friday. The Kookaburras brushed aside Malaysia 6-0 with three goals coming through penalty strokes as the Malaysian defenders battled hard to contain the rampaging Australian forwards. Pakistan beat England 2-1 through Shakeel Abbasi's golden goal three minutes into extra-time after both teams played out a high-class 1-1 draw in the regulation period. Abbasi gave Pakistan the lead in the 54th minute which Matthew Daly equalised two minutes from the final whistle through England's fourth penalty corner in the last quarter. Abbasi then swooped on a defence-breaking pass from Rehan Butt and beat English goalkeeper Jonathan Ebsworth with a hard push to secure victory for Pakistan. The sold-out final Sunday at the State Hockey Centre will feature the only two unbeaten teams in the 10-nation tournament.
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