Germany edge Pakistan

24/03/2003

PAKISTAN........3 GERMANY..........4
GERMANY and Pakistan went through a dress rehearsal of the Azlan Shah Cup
final yesterday, with the Kuala Lumpur World Cup champions taking a slight
4-3 lead.
The tournament is only two days old, but it was clear that these two
teams will be fighting for the title, while the other three will be left
to fight for the third placing.
Pakistan and Germany displayed world-class hockey and the 1,000-odd
crowd at the Azlan Shah Stadium thoroughly enjoyed the Asian flair
displayed by the men and green.
Pakistan were very unlucky to let in an eighth minute goal which made
the Germans more confident and turned the tables on the Pakistanis who
displayed excellent passing and dribbling skills.
Germany got their first penalty corner in the eighth minute and Max
Landshut sent the ball crashing to the top of the net.
Germany increased the lead in the 23rd minute off a Sebastian
Bierderlack goal but failed to break Pakistan who replied in the next
minute.
German defenders Philip Crone and Timo Wess played so well that Pakistan
only won their first penalty corner in the 17th minute but Sohail Abbas'
flick grazed the post and went out. But Sohail made up with his third
penalty corner flick.
Sohail, who normally stands behind the stopper, confused the Germans
when he took a position to the left of the goalmouth. The ball was pushed
straight to Mohamed Saqlin, who in turn pushed it to Sohail for goal.
But just before the break, Germany increased the lead when Wess flicked
in off a rebound.
Pakistan, looking much better than the 2002 Kuala Lumpur world Cup and
the Busan Asian Games side, came back into the picture when Kashif Jawad
sounded the board in the 41st minute to throw the match wide open again.
But Germany had other plans and Benjamin Koepp scored a 58th minute
field goal for 4-2.
And just went Germany thought they had the match in control, Rehan Butt
scored a deft goal and Pakistan were staring at a possible draw with five
minutes of play left, but Germany held on for a win.
Today: New Zealand v Malaysia (6pm); South Korea v Germany (8pm). Note:
Entrance if free at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
(END)