Germany, S Korea, Australia win matches in Champio

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Germany, S Korea, Australia win matches in Champions Trophy

MELBOURNE: Germany snatched a last-minute goal to down Spain 5-4 in a thrilling contest at the men''s field hockey Champions Trophy in Melbourne Tuesday.

In the day''s second match, South Korea downed the jet-lagged Netherlands 2-1.

Germany got off with a first-minute bang as Benjamin Wess followed up his own pass to the right and drove home in the circle, redeeming himself for a disqualification in the Germans'' last game, a 5-3 defeat by South Korea.

Jan-Marco Montag flicked a penalty corner conversion four minutes later to give Germany a 2-0 lead.

But Spain were quick to respond, Albert Sala and Eduard Arbos combining for a right-side challenge to Germany''s defence with a last touch by Arbos sending the ball into goal.

Aged just 18, the tournament''s youngest player Florian Fuchs replied for Germany seconds later, deflecting in a long pass from the midfield to give his side a 3-2 lead at the break.

Field goals by Eddie Tubau and Jordi Carrera put Spain back in front early in the second half, with Tubau managing a back-stick drive across German goalkeeper Tim Jessulat just inside the right post.

A defensive error left Carrera with a loose ball which he drove past Jessulat to make the score 4-3 in Spain''s favour.

With eight minutes to go, Fuchs retaliated with an opportunist''s goal from the top of the circle to level play 4-4.

A penalty corner and three shots on goal from Germany followed, with Matthias Witthaus''s winning goal upheld by the video umpire with just 33 seconds left to play.

Later, The Netherlands showed signs of fatigue against the fitter South Koreans, who won the second match of the day 2-1.

For Korea, Seo Jong-Ho and Hong Eun-Seong made goals while Roderick Westhof netted solitary goal for The Netherlands.

Defending champions Australia beat England 2-1 in the day''s final match.

The hosts despite going in deficit of a goal came back to score two goals. Their scorers were Grant Shoebert and Desmond Abbott.

[Mohammad Sajid]

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