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Bhubaneswar, December 14 (IANS)
Germany emerged victorious in the Hockey Champions Trophy, beating Pakistan 2-0 in a pulsating final at a packed Kalinga stadium here on Sunday.
Christopher Wesley (18’) and Florian Fuchs (56’) scored to help Germany lift the trophy for the 10th time. Germany had won the title for the last time in 2007.
Attacking from the beginning, Germany earned a penalty corner in the first minute of the match. However, they failed to convert. At the end of the first quarter both the teams were tied goalless.
Germany earned a short corner in the first minute of the second quarter, but that was wasted and the scoreline was not troubled.
Germany led 1-0 at half-time
Wesley, however, bagged the first goal for the Europeans in the 18th minute with a strike from a close range.
Both the teams fought hard to score in the third quarter. Pakistan, playing under pressure following the suspension of two of their players for the final match following objectionable behaviour in the semi-final against India, tried hard for the equaliser.
However, the German defence stood firm to deny their every move and continued to pressurise the Asian team with several counter-attacks.
Germany earned two penalty corners in the 47th and 52nd minutes but Christopher Ruhr failed in both his attempts.
In the 56th minute, Germany successfully blocked a drag-flick and co-captain Moritz Furste gave an aerial pass long away to International Hockey Federation (FIH) Young Player of 2012 Fuchs, who drilled the ball in the post with a brilliant finish (2-0).
This goal sealed the match in favour of the Markus Weise-coached Germany.
After the objectionable behaviour by Pakistan players against India on Saturday, all the spectators were seen cheering for Germany in the final.
