Germany win, enter quarters
HOCKEY WORLD CUP Former champions waste eight penalty corners before edging out spirited Malaysia 5-3 BHUBANESWAR:
Twice champions Germany gained a direct entry into the World Cup quarterfinals from Group D on Sunday, but the victory over Malaysia didn’t come easy. They were made to work hard and eventually only scraped through 5-3, after a thrilling affair at the Kalinga Stadium here.
By virtue of winning all three matches, world No 6 Germany topped their group with nine points while Malaysia were fourth and on the verge of elimination. The Roelant Oltmanscoached side will require Netherlands to beat Pakistan later on Sunday with a difference of at least eight goals to enter the crossovers.
For Germany, Timm Herzbruch (2nd and 59th) and Christopher Ruhr (14th and 18th) were on the mark twice each with forward Marco Miltkau (39th) scoring once. For world No 12 Malaysia, Razie Rahim (26th and 42nd) scored a brace with Nabil Noor (28th) scoring one goal.
From the high of a 4-1 victory over three-time champions Netherlands, Germany put up a scrappy performance and got past the Asian outfit by the skin of their teeth.
The Martin Haner-led Germany got as many as nine penalty corners, but converted only one. Malaysia, who knew they had to win to ensure safe passage into the knockouts, looked under pressure at the start with Germany scoring two goals in the first quarter. Ruhr made it 3-0 in the second quarter with a brilliant field goal.
But Malaysia then discovered their touch to maintain possession, constantly trying to penetrate into the striking circle. They got two back-to-back penalty corners, both of which they converted just before half-time to come straight back into the contest.
However, Miltkau once again have Germany a two-goal cushion in the third quarter after making the scoreline 4-2, but another straight drag-flick by Rahim put Malaysia back in contention (4-3).
Malaysia, reduced to nine players at one stage, still managed a penalty corner with two minutes to go. It was fended off by Germany’s defence, and they in typical European style of counterattack, pounced upon their chance in typical European style of counterattack
With an empty Malaysian half, Herzbruch, who had scored the opening goal, deflected a superb pass to ensure the final win margin for Germany.