The Kookaburras have moved to second spot in pool A after winning their second match of the World Cup, against Japan 3-1, in Germany overnight.

The Kookaburras now face a tough challenge with their last two pool games, against New Zealand tomorrow and Pakistan on Wednesday.

The competition is fierce for the top two spots with New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and Spain all still in the running, while in the other pool Germany, Korea, the Netherlands and England are all vying for the positions.

At the end of the pool rounds the top two teams play cross-over semi-finals for a shot in Sunday's final.

For the Kookaburras though, they'll be concentrating on their own performance, aiming for two strong wins and a top of the table finish. To do that though they'll have to improve in attack and start to convert more of their opportunities.

As has been the case throughout the tournament, Australia has dominated possession but hasn't made teams pay on the scoreboard.

They threatened to do so last night against Japan, with two goals in the opening eight minutes, but then let Japan back into the game eight minutes later when they scored from their only shot on goal.

Michael McCann scored the Kookaburras' first goal, and his second for the tournament, when he got on the end of a Dean Butler pass on the right post at the six minute mark.

He was in the action again two minutes later, earning a penalty corner which Troy Elder sent past the Japanese keeper for a 2-0 lead. Japan then tightened their game and in the 16th minute made it 2-1 when they scored from their only shot on goal for the match, and their first for the tournament, when Toshiaki Fukuda was left with an open goal after a great cross found him open.

In a scrappy affair, the highlight of the second half came when Russell Ford scored his second goal in two games after a Brooks shot was blocked, the rebound finding an open Ford at the top of the circle.

Ford's eyes lit up as he smashed home Australia's third goal, putting the result beyond doubt.

In other matches, Pakistan and Spain drew 2-2, Germany beat England 2-1 and Korea and South Africa drew 2-2.

Hockey Australia