Score One for the Netherlands

Floris-jan Bovelander hammered two corner goals within three minutes to help the Netherlands sweep to a 3-1 victory over Spain and take the gold medal in the men’s hockey tournament.

The Dutch, who had never won an Olympic gold, scored from three of their six corners to settle the match.

Victor Pujol gave Spain the lead in the 45th minute with a fine rising shot after a free hit.

Bovelander, a powerfully-built midfielder, struck his goals in the 52nd and 55th minutes to put the Dutch in front.

When the Dutch earned their sixth corner three minutes from time, they brought Bram Lomans off the bench and he scored with a flick into the roof of the net to effectively seal the match.

In the bronze-medal game, Baeden Choppy scored on a penalty corner with 1:19 remaining, giving the Australians a 3-2 victory over the Germans, their opponents in the gold-medal game in 1992. The German prevailed then, 2-1.

Choppy’s shot deflected off defender Carsten Fischer into the German goal.

Earlier, South Korea completed a dismal Games for Pakistan, beating the pre-tournament favorites, 3-1, for fifth place in the 12-team event.

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MEDALISTS / Field Hockey

Men

GOLD: Netherlands

SILVER: Spain

BRONZE: Australia