Olympic champions Germany joined England as qualifiers for next year’s Rabobank hockey World Cup thanks to a dazzling display against host nation Malaysia in the Hockey World League Semi-Final tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The result completed the line-up for the Semi-Finals with Germany setting up a meeting with Korea, who defeated Pakistan earlier in the day.
Korea have upset the form book to secure a stunning 4-3 victory over Pool B winners Pakistan in the quarterfinals. The Koreans produced a sensational fight-back back from 2-0 to eventually win the match, with Pakistan’s Shakeel Abbasi missing a 53rd minute penalty stroke.
Pakistan were outstanding for much of the first half, showing great confidence to surge into a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes. The opening goal came from Muhammad Waqas, who produced a piece of brilliance to beat his man on the edge of the circle before cracking a shot past Korean keeper Lee Myung Ho.
Muhammad Tousiq added the second, although there was an element of fortune about the goal. His attempted cross within the circle took a big deflection off a Korean stick, helping the ball to evade the goalkeeper.
Korea gave themselves a life-line early late in the half thanks to Kang Moon Kweon, who sent a low penalty corner deflection into the Pakistan goal before pulling level just after the break. Kang was again the scorer, this time netting a close range field goal to really set the match alight.
The Greenshirts moved back in front in the 43rd minute when Shakeel Abbasi made no mistake with a penalty stroke, but Korea turned the game on its head with two goals in the space of 60 seconds. Nam Hyun Woo drag-flicked his team leaven in the 48th minute before Kim Young Jin grabbed a goal from close range moments later to leave the Pakistan team stunned.
Arguably the game’s most decisive moment arrived in the 53rd minute when Pakistan were awarded their second penalty stroke of the match. Shakeel Abbasi again assumed responsibility, but this time Korean custodian Lee Myung Ho guessed correctly, stepping across to his left to deny the icon of Pakistan hockey.
There was a frantic finish to the game, but Korea held on to secure a famous win and reached the Semifinal stage. They will play Germany in their next match.
A noisy and intensely passionate capacity crowd of 3500 people witnessed a master-class in attacking hockey from the world number 1 ranked team, powering to a 6-0 win of Germany against Malaysia with all of the goals coming in the first half.
By reaching the Semi Finals, Germany ensured that they could not finish any lower than fourth place at the event in Johor. At least one of the two fourth placed teams in the Hockey World League Semi Final stage now guaranteed a place at World Cup. With Germany’s World Ranking (1) being higher than that of New Zealand (6) – who finished fourth at the HWL Semi Final in Rotterdam – their safe place at the World Cup is assured. It is worth noting that there is still a very real possibility that a fifth place finish here in Johor could result in a berth at the World Cup, ensuring the host nation still has everything to play for.
Germany were simply sensational in the first half, ripping through the Malaysian defence at will to net six goals in just 18 minutes. Christopher Zeller scored the first with a lucky penalty corner routine before Linus Butt and Moritz Polk scored goals in the eighth minute to take the score to 3-0. Zeller added fourth goal with a blistering penalty corner flick, before the game was effectively wrapped up by strikes from 2012 FIH Player of the Year Moritz Fuerste and Thilo Stralkowski.
Malaysia were a much improved outfit in the second half and put on a fine performance for their hugely passionate home fans. However, Germany were simply too good on the day and showed exactly why they are the top ranked men’s team in international hockey.
Earlier, England guaranteed their place at next year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup by defeating Japan 5-0. The result sets up a meeting with Argentina, who defeated South Africa 2-0 in the first Quarter Final of the day.