SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Joe Ingles (R) of Australia competes during the quarter-final match between Australia and the Czech Republic at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Shanghai, east China, on Sept. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
Australia is playing its best World Cup as it advances into semi-finals for the first time
SHANGHAI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australia have qualified for the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup for the first time as they beat the Czech Republic 82-70 here on Wednesday.
Patty Mills finished with 24 points and 6 assists, Chris Goulding scored 14 points off the bench, Andrew Bogut added 10 points, while Joe Ingles collected 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Patrik Auda had a team-high 21 points for Czechs, followed by Tomas Satoransky who pocketed 13 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds. Pavel Pumprla added 10.
A fan of Australia in a kangaroo mask gestures during the quarter-final match between Australia and the Czech Republic at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Shanghai, east China, on Sept. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
Australia got off a good start on 13-8 with an 8-0 run before the Czechs answered with a 7-0 sprint, coming back on 15-13 in the first quarter. Australia took a 5-point lead with 20 seconds left before Patrick Auda made a hook shot for Czech to cut the deficit to three on 33-30 at the break.
Tomas Satoransky's three-pointers made it 41-all in the third quarter before Australia surged to a 16-2 run to usurped the lead on 57-43 and never looked back for the rest of the fourth quarter.
