K Arumugam in Kuala Lumpur
Winning an important match like a semi-final of the 2023 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup when not playing at your fluent best is a characteristic of world champions. Although it’s 10 years since they picked up their sixth title, Germany strode majestically into their second successive final at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, with a 4-1 win over two-time winners India. They now await the winners of the match between France and in Saturday’s final.
Germany were under the cosh in the first half as an effervescent India wove patterns through their defence, but the Europeans still won the half 2-1 with a post-hooter goal from their first penalty corner of the match on the stroke of half time.
Then, even as India attempted to force the pace in the second half, Germany closed down their offensives and launched counters, but mainly capitalised on another penalty corner for a 100 per cent record of 2/2 to end up comfortable winners.
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India, for their part, wasted all their 13 penalty corners and seemed bereft of ideas in front of goal. They seemed to have their noses in front but after eight minutes, it was Germany who shot ahead through Ben Hasbach, the man of the match, who followed up after Mohith saved.
Sudeep Chirmako, however restored parity in the 11th minute with a rasping backhander that gave the goalkeeper, who had kept his team in the game till then, no chance.
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India enjoyed the ascendancy going into the long break but Germany essayed the long passes to produce a penalty corner even as the hooter sounded. Hasbach scored his second to change the look and feel of the contest.
It was 3-1 nearing the three-quarter mark when Paul Glander scored from his team’s second penalty corner, with India having wasted 11 such awards by then. As India struggled to get back in the contest, Germany looked dangerous on the break and solid in running down the clock.
Florian Sperling put it beyond doubt in the 58th minute to seal and endorse Germany’s place in the final. For India, champions in 2016, this was a second consecutive loss to Germany at the penultimate hurdle.
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