Junior Hockey WC: Germany crush India 4-2 in semifinal

SIX-TIME champions Germany defeated defending champions India 4-2 in the semi-final of the FIH Men’ junior Hockey World Cup 2021 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in the Indian state of Odisha on Friday (3).

For the Germans, Erik Kleinlein, Phillip Holzmueller, Hannes Mueller and Christopher Kutter scored while for the hosts, Uttam Singh and Dhami could put it past the goalkeeper. Germany will now play Argentina, who beat France in a penalty shoot-out in the other semi-final, in the title clash on Sunday (5).

India will play France, who they lost to in their first match of the tournament, for the third-place decider.

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The defending champions started the match on a passive note as Germany dominated the possession and conceded the first goal in the dying minutes of the first quarter. Five second after Kleinlein drew blood from a rebound on the penalty corner, India also got a penalty corner but Sanjay failed to convert it.

Germany doubled their lead early in the second quarter as Holzmuller lobbed a deflection over Indian goalkeeper Pawan. Muller scored next by rifling a tomahawk back into the net, leaving the Indians in disarray.

India then pulled one back as Singh deflected a shot into the back of the opponents’ net. But the Germans regained their three-goal lead as Kutter converted a penalty stroke.

In the second half, the Europeans started on front foot and with the momentum on their side, India showed some nervous moments which cost them some chances to score.

India got a consolation goal towards the end when Dhami went past the German goalkeeper to make it 2-4.