K. ARUMUGAM

Spain did everything. Withstood Germany’s onslaught for major part of the intensive 60-minutes, saved from any damage from eleven penalty corners conceded, but in the end could not keep of up the solitary goal lead for another 50 seconds to make their day. Germany, on the other hand, put themselves back in the game by converting their last penalty corner, the 12th, that nullified the Spain’s 2-1 lead taking the contest to shoot out when just 20 seconds left in the clock.

Germany replaced their goalie – Jean Danneberg coming in place of Anton Brinckman who played full 60 minutes — for the shoot out. This turned out to be the game changer. Jean became saviour for the six-time Junior World Cup champions. Bearing Jersey No. 1, the lanky German goalie Jean grabbed the lifetime chance with both hands, preventing first two shoot outs of Spain, thus paving way for the German to make their semifinal entry in the first of the four quarterfinals slated for the day in the Junior World Cup.

German celebrate colleague’s shoot out success. Spain gave agonizing moments for the ultimate winner Germany

Eduard Simo Ignacio and Ignacio Abajo missed their moves while Michel Struthoff and Hannes Muller were successful for the Germans to take the shoot out score 2-0 in favour Germany. Thereafter, Paul Smith frustrated Spain goalie for 3-1 lead but Guillermo Fortuno missed Spain’s fourth turn, Germans rushed to celebrate their hard-earned entry.

For about 20 odd Germans, who are mostly parents of the members of the team, who were vocal, the prayers seemed to have paid off.

It was German’s pugnacity that saw them through. In a game conspicuous for man to marking, it was Spain that rattled the Germans till the 3rd quarter. Germany of course got their first goal off their first serious move into the Spain circle – fast moving Pfandt Masi was tripped inside leading a stroke which Christoher Kutter had no difficulty in converting (5th min 1-0). The goal must have given the German a good relief as they were on back foot till then, even conceding two early penalty corners.

In fact, Spain surprised the famed rival the white-shirted Germany. With a straight away business like move they earned a couple of penalty corners within first two minutes but goalie Anton Brinckman was solid in palming away the dragflicks of Pau Cunill’s essentially centrally directed top flight drags.

Within six minutes from conceding the lead, the Spaniards, who dazzled in the red-shirts, replied off their fourth penalty corner. As usual, Pau Cunill took the drag only to see it palmed but lurking around Ignacio Abajo did not waste a second to push in the rebound (1-1, 11th minute).

Thereafter, both teams pushed hard, giving an copybook display of man to man marking, even to the extent of irksome levels. Germany, who got 12 penalty corners in the game, earned their first one in the 18th minute. Luis Calzado was reflexive enough to clear Msi Pfandt’s grounder.

Spain, who were conceding space for the marauding German forwards — six penalty corners in the third quarter alone — came alive when in the 59th minute Eduard De Ignacio-Simo bounced on a slip in a concerted move to get the elusive lead (2-1, 59th min), but their joy was short-lived as they could not hold the ball for the remained of the time.

Not to give up, the Germany matched move for move but were unable to penetrate the closely guarded Spain circle.

Spain earned couple of penalty corners after managing to save their goal for major part of the third quarter but could not make use of them. The moves that earned them PCs in the 52nd and 54th minutes could have been utilized but the first was not stopped properly and the other was palmed away by Anton.

When just 33 seconds left in the clock, Germany earned their 11th penalty corner, which was saved from being scored but the resultant penalty corner turned out to the springboard for the Germans to bounce back.

Masi Pfandt, who was prodigal with so many attempts, was a picture of confidence when converted the 12th penalty corner with just 20 seconds left in the clock.

Rest is history.

Photo by K. Arumugam