Korea, Germany and Australia moved forward, firming up further their path to the top finish even as the woes of Spain and Great Britain continues unabated in the fourth day of the 29th Samsung Champions Trophy. Rather curiously, both the Manchester European Cup finalists ended up as losers. Malaysia retrieved some prestige when a late surge in the second half helped them wipe off two-goal deficit and thus manage to garner first point in four matches. The hosts, thus, temporarily halted the upward trend shown by the young and energetic Pakistan team.

The talk of the turf on Monday of course revolved around the first match, the one between the Asia’s superpower Korea and the team that was rated high so far, The Netherlands. What was in store in the proceedings could not be forecast in the first half when both team seemed to be on even keel, but as time ticked away the Dutch side was seen losing energy, legs refuse to move as fast as they could have otherwise normally. Korean coach Cho Sung Jun was candid in his comment: “In the first half we thought we would be able to make a draw, but later realized that we had the better stamina to go for the win”.

That is the point here. In an alien condition – is there any such thing in the global competitions of this size? – where temperatures hovered around 35 degree centigrade, the Dutch caved in as never happened so far. They conceded five goals in the second half, losing the contest 6-2, despite taking lead in the first half. Said Cho: “Ours is a senior team, 13 players from the last World Cup are here. We have always done a very good job with the stronger teams”.

Apart from the forwardline, the credit for the show should go to the Korea’s penalty corner executioner Jang Jong Hyun. It was the strong defender who frustrated the Dutch defence with deft corner conversions.

The Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans turned philosophical when said in the post match briefing: “sometime you win, sometimes not”. His eloquence on energy level point to the fact that heat is their enemy here, and perhaps The Netherlands are not an all weather team!

Germany marches ahead, as if a team possessed. On second pitch, they showed clean pair of heels to the Spaniards, pumping in four goals before conceding a solitary one. Germany looks the most balanced of teams here. Meanwhile the injured Frank Dinares will be flown back to Spain and will not be part of the tam any more.

Pakistan for a while forgot the game is for seventy minutes, and ran out of ideas and also steam in the second half to surrender the painstaking 2-0 lead built up in the first half, in the second half. Australians are not pressing, and the British team benefitted. As the Aussies go all out to conserve energy, the GB walked heads held high with an honourable 1-2 defeat.

Tuesday is rest day and the team will be accorded an official dinner at the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel, where the teams are presently put up.