Germany overcomes Pakistan

ROTTERDAM, NOV. 8. European champion Germany was forced to fight for its 5-4 victory over Pakistan on Wednesday, its fourth straight win, which qualified it for the final of the Champions Trophy.

All the final contenders had tight matches which they won by the odd goal. Australia came through 3-2 against England while the Netherlands came from behind to beat Korea by the same score in a re-match of last year's Olympic final.

Germany appeared to be coasting into the final when it led 4-0 after 32 minutes of the first half, but then dropped guard to let Pakistan back into the match.

Although three goals came when Pakistan was reduced to 10 men due to the 12-minute suspension of Muhammad Saqlain for dangerous stick play, two corner conversions by Sohail Abbas changed the second half landscape.

When Pakistan began to find some rhythm, its third goal in the 51st minute, again courtesy of Abbas from a third corner flick, signalled a possible reversal of fortune.

However, Germany regained its two-goal lead with a second penalty conversion by captain Florian Kunz taking his tournament tally to seven.

Pakistan replied immediately, with captain Muhammad Sarwar putting the finishing touches to a well-worked corner.Germany's first half goals were scored by Oliver Domke, Michael Green, Florian Kunz and Christian Wein.

Australia maintained second place, two points behind Germany, beating England 3-2 for its third successive win in a game played in driving rain.

Australia had two penalty corners in the first half and scored from both through Matthew Wells in the 21st minute and Troy Elder seven minutes later.

In between Jason Collins turned in an opportunist shot by Mark Pearn with his first touch of the game for his debut international goal.

Tournament whipping boy South Korea meanwhile put the frighteners on the Netherlands before it bowed to pressure at the halfway mark to finally lose its match 2-3 for its fourth defeat in as many days.

Any notion that this match between the Olympic finalists was to be a classic quickly dissolved as the match got underway.

South Korea opened the scoring through Keon-Wook Kang in the 13th minute, his reverse stick strike going in off the glove of Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels.

Jong-Seon Lee added a second goal 11 minutes later to build the visitor's hopes of its first win in the tournament.

But the Dutch soon got their act together. Teun de Nooiyer cut round the Korean defence and shot, and the rebound went straight into goal off Karel Klawer's stick just before the whistle for the end of what was a disappointing first half.

Three minutes after the interval Matthijs Brouwer picked up a poor clearance to shoot between the legs of Korean 'keeper Yoon Kim and level the scores.

Piet Geeris managed to squeeze a shot between 'keeper and post from a wide angle for the decisive goal four minutes later.

Korea then squandered several chances to level but the Dutch held on for their second win.

- AFP

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