Australia's men's hockey team lose battle for gold by the barest of margins after one of the most nail-biting finishes to any event at the Tokyo Games
- Australia's Kookaburras' gold medal clash with Belgium ended in high drama
- With scores locked at 1-1 at full-time, the game went to a penalty shootout
- Australia missed their vital final shot on goal - but umpires spotted a foul
- After an agonising wait, officials ordered a retake to give Kookaburras a chance
- But the second attempt to keep their gold medal dreams alive went wide
- Find out the latest Tokyo Olympic news including schedule, medal table and results right here
Australia's Kookaburras have suffered an agonising defeat against Belgium in a nailbiting shootout for gold in the Olympics hockey final on Thursday that saw a heartstopping retake of the final shot on goal.
With the match tied 1-1 in deadlock at the end of normal time it went to a spine-tingling penalty shootout to decide gold and silver.
The Australian men were on the back foot from the beginning when their first attempt on goal was denied and Belgium responded with two goals back to back.
Australia matched the two goals and with the pressure piling up on Belgium, they too missed a shot on goal - only for Australia to also be denied in their subsequent attempt.
The Kookaburras have suffered an agonising defeat against Belgium in a nailbiting shootout for gold in the Olympics hockey final. Pictured here is Australia's Blake Govers
The Kookaburras had to settle for silver after losing the penalty shoot out, despite a second chance retake of their final attempt on goal. Seen here is Tim Brand (centre) with team-mates
It all came down to the final Australian attempt on goal to decide the Kookaburra's Olympic campaign and the Australian's shot ricocheted wide.
It looked to be all over but replays showed the Belgian keeper Vincent Vanasch fouled Australian Jake Whetton.
After an agonising wait as officials pored over the footage, the Kookaburras were given a second shot on goal by the video umpire.
But on the retake, Jake Whetton was agonisingly forced wide and Belgium claimed gold in a heartbreaking defeat for the Kookaburras.
On the retake, Jake Whetton (pictured) was agonisingly forced wide and Belgium claimed gold in a heartbreaking defeat for the Kookaburras.
The Kookaburras had earlier dragged themselves back into the match when Tom Wickham (pictured) scored in the final quarter to level the scores
The Kookaburras had earlier dragged themselves back into the match when Tom Wickham scored in the final quarter to level the scores after Belgium had taken the lead early in the second half via Florent van Aubel.
But at the end of normal time, nothing could separate the two finalists, forcing the match into the tense shootout where Belgium had the upper hand and ran out 3-2 penalty winners in the end.
'We had a really great belief in what we were doing in our training,' said Kookaburras defender Eddie Ockenden, 34, after the match.
'We came in believing we could come in and win the gold medal. We had a great preparation. It's been a long hard slog.'
The Australian men were on the back foot from the beginning when their first attempt on goal was denied and Belgium responded with two goals back to back. Seen here is Kookaburras keeper Andrew Charter fouling Belgium's Victor Wegnez in the shootout
After normal time ended in stalemate, it went to a shoot out where Belgium had the upper hand and ran out 3-2 penalty winners in the end
Belgian goalie Vincent Vanasch played a key role in the Kookaburras' three failed attempts during the penalty shoot out.
'We were really focused and then I did the job at the end,' Vanasch said after the match, which denied the Kookaburras their first Olympic gold since 2004.
'I'm really happy. I think all of the Belgian people are proud today of the Belgium national team.'
