The Kookaburras let a three goal lead slip to lose their first Champions Trophy match in two years after Spain piled on five goals in the second half.

In a match of contrasts, the Kookaburras dominated the first half but struggled in the second where Spain, in front of a parochial home crowd, overpowered the reigning champions who'd raced to a 3-0 lead after 22 minutes and looked set for a strong win.

Nathan Eglington scored the first of those goals in the eighth minute when his deflection found the back of the net, while ten minutes later Michael McCann made it 2-0 when he got on the end of a Dwyer run and guided one through from a tight angle.

It soon became 3-0 when another of Dwyer's runs found Hammond whose strike resulted in another deflection and goal, this time by Grant Schubert in the 22nd minute.

Late in the half Spain had a chance to get one back but a good save from Lambert sent the ball over the crossbar.

However, the second penalty corner play proved more successful for penalty corner specialist Santi Freixa, his drag flick beating Lambert on the bottom left post.

Australia held their two-goal lead going into half time but it was soon reduced to one after the break when Freixa scored his second goal from another penalty corner.

More motivated and committed in the second half, Spain began to fire and gain more confidence and when Eddie Tubau scored the equalizer, from an Australian deflection, they had evened the score and had sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Three minutes later they had more to cheer about when Santi Freixa scored his third from another penalty corner.

The Kookaburras tried to lift their game, however with the sapping heat and the Spaniards riding high on confidence, they weren't able to penetrate their defences, with Spain continually counter attacking.

It was one such counter attack that resulted in the final Spanish goal when Pol Amat took the ball into the circle and hit a reverse stick shot that beat Lambert and gave the home side a two goal win.

The loss has the Kookaburras sitting in equal second, but fourth on goal difference. With their remaining two matches against Argentina, on Thursday, and Germany on Saturday, positions for Sunday's final will go right down to the wire.

In other matches, the Dutch completely outplayed Pakistan to win 9-2, while Germany beat Argentina 3-1.

Hockey Australia