TheSportsCampus

Australia destroyed Pakistan 3-0 in the men's hockey final to complete the grand hockey double at 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on Sunday. Just yesterday, Australia had grabbed the solitary goal to edge India 1-0 in the women's final.

After year's of disappointment, Australia now hold a rare triple crown in hockey, being the reigning Olympic and Champions Trophy winners as well.

In a sadly one-sided contest Pakistan were comprehensively beaten, as the former Olympic champions failed to earn even a single penalty corner in the match. Incidentally Australia put themselves on the scoresheet in the 18th minute through their first penalty corner. After dragging the ball in, Liam de Young received the ball back from Jamie Dwyer and from alongside the goal post, he smashed it in past goalkeeper Salman Akbar.

That was the only real action of the first half, despite Australia camping themselves almost permanently in the Pakistan half.

The match was as good as over in the 51st minute as Tariq Aziz lost his cool and was sent off. It took Australia just 6 minutes to capitalize on their one-man advantage as Luke Doerner slammed the ball home from a penalty corner to double Australia's lead.

Pakistan's best chances came through Shakeel Abbasi, whose excellent running on the right wing caused nervousness in the Australian ranks.

Dwyer was in the thick of the action once again in the 61st minute, as a terrific reverse stick deflection past Pakistan's goalkeeper sealed Pakistan's fate.

Earlier in the day, Malaysia defeated England 2-0 to take bronze. The Malaysians scored a goal in each half, Tengku Ahmad opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a terrific finish at the end of a excellent solo run. Rahim Muhamad Amin completed the tally off a penalty strike.