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Germany wins field hockey Cup

The German team celebrates its 4-3 victory over Australia in the Hockey World Cup final in Moenchengladbach, Germany, on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

Germany coach Bernhard Peters enjoyed a perfect end to his field hockey career by leading his team to World Cup victory over Australia on Sunday.

Peters, who will take over a third division soccer team, worked wonders with his side at half time to transform a 3-1 half-time deficit into a 4-3 final victory.

It was the second World Cup victory for the hosts, who also beat Australia when they won the 2002 edition in Kuala Lumpur.

"Of course I am happy with the performance of my team and the way they stayed with the game plan through the match," Peters said.

Australia started without Jamie Dwyer, who was injured in the previous match against South Korea.

And their tactic of playing high against Germany's deep defense in the first half, looking for gaps or mistakes in Germany's backfield, led to Germany's opener.

Christopher Zeller beat two defenders in Australia's circle and fired a shot into the right side of goal from near the penalty spot after 18 minutes.

Australia hit back a minute later with a penalty corner conversion by full back Mark Knowles, and again three minutes later with a penalty corner goal by Matthew Naylor high into the net.

Germany attacked again, earning a penalty corner but had to go in for the interval 2-1 down after Australia 'keeper Stephen Mowlam tipped Zeller's high flick over the bar.

Troy Elder broke through Germany's defense on the left four minutes after the restart, passed in to Robby Hammond whose shot was not stopped cleanly by Ulrich Bubolz, Germany's goalkeeper. Elder followed through to tap the loose ball into goal for Australia to lead 3-1.

Germany opened up Australia's defense again 11 minutes into the second half with a long pass into the circle for Moritz Fuerste, who deflected past Mowlam from 5m in front of the left post.

Bjoern Emmerling scored a spectacular equalizing goal making a diving backstick hit which looped over Mowlam into the back of the goal.

Zeller then beat Australia's Aaron Hopkins into the circle to score the winning goal past Mowlam from the left for Germany to take the lead 4-3 with 16 minutes on the clock.

Luke Doerner had a chance to level four minutes from time but he put his flick on to the left post.

Australia's assistant coach, Colin Batch said: "Germany is a very good team and they played very well so it is no disgrace to lose against Germany."

"First, congratulations to Germany for putting on a fantastic tournament and playing a great second half today to be very deserving winners," Barry Dancer, Australia's coach said.

"The group is in a state of shock, questioning what happened, trying to deal with the emotions," Dancer said.

"To Germany's credit they kept coming at us after we went up 3-1 and it possibly slipped away from us in the five minutes after our third goal," said Brent Livermore, Australia's captain.

In other matches, Pol Amat scored a golden goal one minute into extra time to give Spain a 3-2 victory over South Korea and third place.

Neither team could break the 2-2 deadlock inside 70 minutes and the match went into 15 minutes of extra time.

However Amat settled matters within the first minute, making a backstick flick from wide on the left of the circle over Myung Lee and into goal to provoke wild celebrations by Spain on the pitch.

Earlier, Japan defeated Argentina 2-1 to take ninth place.

South Africa finished last after losing 0-1 to India.

The 11th place finish for India was the country's second worst finish at a World Cup after its last place in 1986 in London, but one place behind it's 10th position finish four years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
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