Hockeyroos cruise into Pro League finals
Jane Claxton has scored two goals in less than a minute to send the Hockeyroos on their way to topple Germany and book their place in the women's FIH Pro League finals.
Claxton put Australia up 2-0 by the third minute, with Emily Chalker adding a third in the 21st minute on Sunday, before Hannah Gablac scored a consolation goal in the 32nd minute, at Krefeld in Germany.
Australia will join the Netherlands, Argentina and Germany in finals in Antwerp on Wednesday.
Claxton opened her account in the second minute when a crash ball deflected off a German defender and landed in her path.
The 26-year-old midfielder trapped the ball before smashing a backfoot shot into the corner of goal.
Less than a minute later, Claxton dived for a long-range aerial ball and tapped into the net as the German defence was left in chaos.
Although the hosts settled, the Hockeyroos managed to grab a third goal in the 21st minute to put the game beyond doubt.
Chalker scored amid a goalmouth scramble with the point left to stand after a lengthy German review for suspected bodily contact.
The hosts came out after the break with renewed confidence and were finally able to break through when Australia were reduced to 10 players after Savannah Fitzpatrick's green card.
Gablac scored immediately, but momentum shifted back to Australia, who forced a number of penalty corners in the third quarter but were unable to convert them.
The hosts started the final period strongly but Hockeyroos goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram's double save ended their best chance and they could not find their way back into it.
