Germany scored a controlled 3-1 victory over India in a women’s match of the FIH Pro League at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Saturday. The outcome brought Germany their 12th point from five matches but no elevation from sixth spot in the nine-team league. India remain at ninth with eight from 12 and have yet to find winning form after four defeats in the Antwerp leg last week.

Germany scored through Charlotte Stapenhorst (14′), Zimmerman (24′, pc) and Nikki Lorenz (37′, pc).
India struck through Deepika (23′, pc). The margin was kept respectable by Savita Punia’s heroics in goal and the former captain made two important saves to deny Sara Strauss in the early phase.
The Germans did not do themselves any favors with prodigality right through the encounter. They also didn’t enjoy the rub of the green with two video referrals that nullified two goals.
After Stapenhorst slammed home her 50th goal in her 163rd international — a nifty hit to Savita’s right post — Germany stormed India’s citadel for more.
India looked unsettled but survived without further damage till the end of the first quarter.
After the interval, coach Harendra Singh’s team, looked a transformed unit.
Vandana Katariya went close twice, Deepika flicked just wide and the Germans were on the back foot save a moment when Lorenz rattled a post.
Deepika, aspiring to become her country’s drag flicking mainstay, justified the tag when she packed enough power to send one in off the goalkeeper to restore parity.
Indian joy, however, lasted a mere 30 seconds.
Sonja Zimmerman made it 2-1off post player Ishika Choudary from a penalty corner.
Germany then had a goal disallowed when Selin
Oruz’s hit in a PC sequence went above the boards but the Europeans were unrelenting thereafter.
Savita continued the good work in the final quarter with a diving effort to deny Lorenz but Germany weren’t to be denied a third goal when a slip ball from Zimmerman found Lorenz providing the coup de grace from a penalty corner.
India made a valiant charge, forcing two more penalty corners to take their count to four.
Savita stood tall again with another smart save as Germany forced three more penalty corners.
Another save by the iconic Indian custodian denied Strauss yet again but it was India going close in the dying moments — thwarted by the generally unutilized goalkeeper Natalie Kubakski.
India next play hosts Great Britain at 1900 IST on Sunday.

JARMANPREET SPARKLES AS INDIA BLANK GERMANY

A win, clean sheet, and three goals against a European powerhouse like Germany.
India can pat themselves on the back after a comprehensive victory at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Saturday. Three points accruing from the encounter in the men’s FIH Pro League boosts India’s tally to 24 from 13 matches but they remain in third position after the Netherlands (12 played) and Argentina (14) on 26 each.
Germany, who played only their fifth match, are sixth with eight points.
Not very often do you witness India score off their only penalty corner in the match, and remarkably still, Germany draw a blank from 12.
Harmanpreet Singh (16th min) was on target from the setpiece to put India 1-0 up. Sukhjeet Singh (41st) and Gurjant (44th) then added splendid field goals to stifle Germany’s challenge.
The keynote, however, of India’s success was a defensive masterclass led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as well as a sublime all-round display by Jarmanpreet Singh, duly named player of the match.
The percentage player had a hand in the third goal and was often seen thwarting the World Cup champions be it at the PC or amid their frequent offensives that marked a first-quarter ascendancy.
Germany, by no means fielding their strongest side, would still be grossly disappointed especially in making it count beyond the attacking 23.
There was an absence of their customary sharpness in the circle and that compounded they woes of Gonzalo Peillat, their Argentine-German ace dragflicker.
After Germany, potentially rusty, forced the pace, India gained control with Harmanpreet’s dragflick that took a deflection and nutmegged goalkeeper Alexander Stadler.
Even as Germany piled on the PC count through the second and third quarters, India surged further ahead through a spectacular backhand strike by Sukhjeet who received the drop ball from Abhishek near the left baseline. Gurjant then put India in the driver’s seat from close range after Jarmanpreet sent in a precise cross from the right flank.
India now play hosts Great Britain on Sunday (1645 IST) after Germany take on Ireland (1430 IST).