India fail to defend title, lose 3-6 in SF

Johor Bahru (Malaysia), Nov 3: Three-time champions India failed to defend their Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey title, losing 3-6 to world no.2 Germany in the semifinal here on Friday.
Christian Franz (16th minute), Nikas Berendts (29th, 45th), Peer Hinrichs (43rd, 48th), and Sperling Florian (49th) found the back of the net for the Germans, who produced a dominating display.
India’s goals were scored by Amandeep Lakra (35th), Uttam Singh (58th) and Rohit (60th).
Franz scored in the very first minute of the second quarter.
Berendts’s flick from a penalty corner breached India’s goal for the second time in the match.
India found their footing in the third quarter, as Amandeep’s flick found the back of the net to reduce the deficit. But the joy was short lived as Hinrichs netted the ball in after a goal mouth melee to extend Germany’s lead. This was quickly followed by another goal, by Berendts, towards the end of the quarter.
The German onslaught continued in the last quarter with Hinrichs doubling his tally after a thunderous flick from a penalty corner.
Soon after, Florian chipped the ball over Mohith from close range to make it 6-1 in Germany’s favour.
Uttam deflected a long cross to score India’s second goal, while Rohit scored from a penalty corner in the last minute of the game. (PTI)