Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 14: The FIH crackdown and the continuous barracking by the spectators at the Kalinga Stadium here Sunday took a toll on Pakistan. The visitors from the other side of the border went down 0-2 against a much speedier and fitter German side in the final of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament. The Olympic Champions thus won the Champions Trophy after a gap of seven years – having last triumphed in 2007 – courtesy goals from Christopher Wesley and Florian Fuchs and in the process won their overall 10th title.
The crowd couldn’t have asked for a better finish as they supported the German side all the way. Kalinga Stadium seemed to have turned into a German fortress as for every move they made there were cheers and for every move the Pakistanis made there were jeers. Coach Markus Weise was not very much off the mark when he said after the game, “It was as if we were playing in our own country. Wrong, we wouldn’t have got this kind of support in Deutschland. Thank you Bhubaneswar.”
The Germans played the ‘pressing game’ to perfection. Such was their dominance that Pakistan got their only penalty corner at the fag end of the match. On the other hand, the Germans could have scored half a dozen had they utilised the sitters that came their way. If skipper Moritz Furste and Mathias Mueller were outstanding in defence, then upfront, the trio of Fuchs, man of the match Jonas Gomoll and Tobias Hauke tore open the Pak defence time and again.
With Furste effectively marking Shakeel Ahmed Butt and Christopher Ruhr bottling up inside right Irfan Muhammad, the Pakistan attack lacked sting. Only once did Shafqat Rasool manage to sneak past the German defence but his measured cross went to waste with the other players out of position.
The Germans started on a dominating note and never let go their hold. The first goal came when Gomoll weaved his way past the Pakistan defenders and found Wesley who made no mistake. The final and 107th goal of the event came with three minutes to go for the final hooter with Fuchs scoring off a solo run. Game, set and Champion of Champions – Germany.
