Friday, January 17, 2014

Sensational India silence world number one Germany 5-4, to face Belgium for 5th spot



Winning or losing is part and parcel of sport. But sometimes a win does more than just helping the team glean full points or advance to the next stage – it does more in terms of inculcating truckloads of self-belief – that’s what India’s stupendous come-from-behind 5-4 win over world number one and Olympic champions Germany is going to do them for the future battles ahead.

What makes this win all the more remarkable was the fact that India were left to do all the catching up after Germany struck twice in the first five minutes of play – first through skipper Oliver Korn and later via Thilo Stralkowski.

The boisterous home crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi were silenced but not for too long – prodigiously talented Mandeep Singh – orchestrated India’s fightback reducing the margin in the 17th minute off a Rupinder Pal Singh pass.

The crowd got more louder with India’s opening strike, but Germany kept pressing on the accelerator and enhanced the lead through Benajmin Wess in the 27th minute to put the onus of India mounting a fightback in the second half.

One is not sure what head coach Terry Walsh told them at the break, but the boys wore a transformed look - Rupinder Pal Singh made the scoreline 2-3 when he scored off a PC after Vokkaliga Raghunath sold a dummy.

Mandeep Singh sent the home crowd into raptures when he made the most of a SV Sunil assist three minutes later. The Ranchi Rhinos lad capped off a sizzling hat-trick in the 53rd minute to help his side move ahead for the first time in the match.

Germany, who earlier muffed a penalty stroke, responded swiftly make it 4-4 through Martin Haner minutes later.

The match enlivened further towards the closing stages – India earned a penalty corner even as the full time hooter was blown. Rupinder Pal Singh produced the match-clincher with a grounder to which the Germans asked for a referral but to no avail.

With this win, India has avoided the prospect of finishing with the wooden spoon and will face Belgium for the fifth spot – Belgium earlier got the better of Argentina 3-1 in a penalty shootout.

Germany face Argentina to avoid a wooden spoon.

One thing is sure - this win over the world number one will be a massive shot in the arm for Indian hockey!




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