Australia’s men’s team cast aside the disappointment of losing their semi-final to find their scoring touch, hitting Pakistan for six. They defeated the former Olympic champions 6-3 in the floodlit men’s bronze medal match. As at the 1996 Games, Australia have retained their women’s gold and their men’s bronze medals.

Australia’s hero was their 22 year old forward Troy Elder who scored Australia’s first goal after two minutes. It was his first Olympic goal and he went on to get a hat-trick.

Australia deceived Pakistan at their first penalty corner by letting the ball go out to the 21yard broken line so that the corner became open play. Brent Livermore picked out Elder unmarked in the circle and he lashed the ball into the net.

Australia should have quickly added to their lead but instead Pakistan levelled with Atif Bashir’s sixth minute free hit being deflected.

But Pakistan gave Australia’s attack far too much room and Australia were ahead again inside two minutes and went on to lead 3-1 at half-time. Elder added his second in open play and Stephen Davies followed up an Elder flick at a corner for number three.

Pakistan won few corners but Sohail Abbas added to his seven previous tournament goals from their second to give Pakistan hope. It was short-lived as James Elmer nipped through the Pakistan defence for his third goal of the Games, Elder added his third and Mike Brennan scored Australia’s sixth.

Pakistan stole their third goal five seconds from time, Kashif Javed scoring after they broke from an Australian corner.