Germany won the Sultan of Johor Cup when they took part for the first time in 2012. Both India and Germany then played the final too, with the latter winning on a tight score of 3-2. In the pool stage, however, its India that defeated them 3-1. Eleven winters later, the equation did stand. Germany seemed to have progressed quite a lot, as was exemplified today when they outplayed the continent’s best team. Scoring a brace in the last three quarters, it made India look like a minnows and walked away with 6-3 wins after taking 6-1 lead in the 49th minute.
It is for the first time any team struck as many as 6 goals against India, which had so far played the finals 7 out of 8 times. The provious worst was 1-5 defeat at the hands of the hosts way back in 2011. Such a dominance was blemished today with the heavy defeat. Interestingly, this year they were defending champions and the Junior World Cup is just a month away.
Pakistan on the other hand turned out to be a valiant winners against Australia while going down 1-2 in the other semifinal.
Therefore now, another India-Pak match will be played tomorrow for the bronze. Both neighbours opened the SoJC campaign last week, the tie ending 3-3, after India trailing most part of the match.
Things looked even in the first quarter when both sides missed goal chances and returned to brief rest with 0-0 scoreboard.
however, the pace and precision changed in the next three quarters which saw a flurry of goals from the European powerhouse. Germany’s Christian Franz (16’), Nikas Berendts (29’, 45’), Peer Hinrichs (43’,48’), and Sperling Florian (49’) found the back of the net while Amandeep Lakra (35’), Uttam Singh (58’) and Rohit (60’) scored for India.