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Win sees Hockeyroos qualify for Tokyo Olympic Games

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
The Hockeyroos celebrate after scoring a goal during the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Perth.
Camera IconThe Hockeyroos celebrate after scoring a goal during the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Perth. Credit: Getty Images

Australia sent an emphatic message to the rest of the hockey world with a 5-0 victory over Russia last night to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games.

Having missed qualification by goal difference in last month’s Oceania Cup, the Hockeyroos needed to win the two-game series at Perth Hockey Stadium, something they accomplished with ease.

The Hockeyroos already had a two-goal aggregate advantage after Friday’s 4-2 victory, meaning every goal they scored made the task harder for the 19th ranked Russians.

It took Australia just nine minutes to get on the scoreboard, with the opportunistic Grace Stewart driving one home off a deflection.

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Australia’s relentless attacking pressure paid off in the second term, as they went about tearing Russia’s defence apart with four goals in eight minutes.

Mariah Williams got the scoring spree started when she slipped one past the Russian defence after a patient build up.

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This opened the floodgates, as Australia flexed their muscles with two goals in two minutes when Sophie Taylor converted a penalty corner followed by a tap in by co-captain Emily Chalker for the Hockeyroos’ fourth.

Williams then added more punishment to the Russians, scoring her second goal on the stroke of half-time to crush the visitor’s spirit.

Australia looked set to add more carnage on the scoreboard, working a number of penalty corners, which were denied by a steely Russian defence.

Chalker almost scored twice in the final quarter, but both of her incredible shots were saved by Russian defenders, who were desperate to make sure their was not any further embarrassment.

Russian forward Kseniia Svezhentseva gave Australian goalkeeper Ashlee Wells a late workout with a couple of nice runs in attack, but ultimately it was the hosts night as the world number two team booked their ticket to Tokyo.

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