Hockey World League Final: India Finish Pool Stage Without a Win
India lose 0-2 to Germany in their final Pool B game of the Hockey World League Final.
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India lost 0-2 to Germany in their final Pool B game of the Hockey World League on 4 December to finish the league stage without a win.
Bhubaneswar crowd had to return home disappointed once again as Germany scored two goals in the second quarter through skipper Martin Haner (17th minute) and Mats Grambusch (20th) to hand India their second defeat of the eight-nation tournament.
India, who drew 1-1 with Australia and lost 2-3 against England in their previous outings, thus finished at the bottom of Pool B table with just one point from three matches. However, the host’s campaign has not ended as yet, as the pool matches are there only to decide who plays whom in the quarter-finals.
Having finished at the bottom, India will now play the leaders of Pool A in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Pool B's top-placed Germany (7 points) will take on the last team of Pool A.
Pool A standings will be decided tomorrow after the final round of matches between Argentina-Spain and Belgium-Netherland.
Rio Olympic bronze medallist Germany dominated the proceedings from word go while the Indians were defending for the first ten minutes of the game. Both the teams tried hard but failed to produce any real goal scoring opportunities in the first quarter.
Just two minutes into the second quarter, Germany won their first penalty corner of the match which was successfully converted by captain Martin Hanner. In the very next minute, India missed a chance to equalise after SV Sunil failed to trap Akashdeep Singh’s pass right in front of goal.
To the utter disbelief of the capacity crowd present at the Kalinga Stadium, the Germans extended their lead minutes later through Gramhbusch, whose strike from the circle beat Chikte after a deflection from Birendra Lakra’s stick.
Stunned by two goals, the hosts finally showed some promise and created a few good chances but failed to get past Germany custodian Tobias Walter, who was brilliant under the post.
Mandeep Singh made a good counter in the 20th minute, however his shot was saved by the German goalkeeper.
The German goalkeeper made three brilliant saves in the final three minutes of the second quarter.
An agile Walter made a double save to deny Gurjant Singh twice, first blocking his shot and then keeping out a sharp deflection from the striker with his extended arms. Two minutes before half-time, India won their first penalty corner of the match after going for a referral but Walter came to his side’s rescue against as he kept away Rupinder Pal Singh’s flick.
Germany had a comfortable 2-0 lead over India at half-time.
Soon after the change of ends, India secured a penalty corner but it was later disallowed by the video umpire after Germany went for referral.
The Indians had a close shave minutes later when the ball struck the post and went out after India's second choice goalkeeper Suraj Karkera did just enough to keep out Germany's second set piece.
India then got their second penalty corner but this time Harmanpreet Singh disappointed.
Penalty corner conversions continued to haunt the Indians as they wasted two more set pieces in the final seconds of the match to sum up their disastrous pool showing.
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