Australia celebrate winning gold

Ronald Brouwer put the Dutch ahead on 29 minutes but Travis Brooks levelled after 37 minutes for the Australians.

With no further goals, the final went into extra-time and then Dwyer struck the winner from a penalty corner.

Bjoern Michel also hit a golden goal in extra-time as world champions Germany beat Spain 4-3 to capture the bronze.

"This is the best feeling I have ever felt in my entire life," said Dwyer.

"To get that goal was unbelievable. I think we deserved the game, but that last goal was just a dream come true. No words can describe how I felt when that ball hit the back of the net."

Australia have been one of the great forces of world hockey but their previous Olympic appearances had yielded only three silvers and three bronzes.

Their victory denied Holland their chance of becoming only the second team after India to win three successive gold medals.

Michel scored Germany's winner with five minutes left of extra-time after both sides were locked at 3-3 in regulation play.

Sascha Reinelt, Eike Duckwitz and Bjoern Emmerling were Germany's other scorers, while Santiago Freixa and Eduardo Tubau (2) struck for Spain.