S2H TEAM

India all but pulled it out of the fire when Jarmanpreet hit the post on the hooter. As the men in blue agonized, Germany heaved relief with a 3-2 win in a men’s match of the FIH Pro League at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Saturday.

The earlier meeting in the league ended 3-0 in India’s favour but Germany looked a different kettle of fish on the day with the return of a few stalwarts.

Gonzalo Peillat, Germany’s drag-flicker par excellence, scored two goals (2nd, 33rd minutes) from the set piece while the other came from the blade of sparkling forward Christopher Ruhr (10th minute) who endured a five-month injury-induced layoff and celebrated his return by scoring his team’s second goal.

Harmanpreet Singh (19th minute, penalty corner) and Sukhjeet (48th minute) were on target for India, which looked out-of-depth in the first quarter, which Germany dominated.

The result ended India’s hopes of winning the nine-nation league, the Asian Games champions logging in 24 points from 15 matches. Germany, however, have every chance of the top podium after boosting their tally to 17 from nine.

Argentina finished their 16-match campaign with 29 points from 16. Australia have 27 from 13 and the Netherlands are on 26 from 12.

India play their last match against hosts Great Britain (16 points from nine matches) at 1900 IST on Sunday and must want to finish on a high before next month’s Paris Olympics.

Player of the Match Moritz Ludwig’s verve and energy won him yet another accolade and his influence in the defence and midfield did much to set the tone for the World Cup champions’ front-footed display in the opening phase.

Germany surged ahead when Peillat’s drag flick nutmegged Krishan Pathak, who smothered much of the impact but couldn’t prevent the ball trickling over the goalline.

India struggled to keep Germany at bay but enjoyed a rare moment when Araijeet Hundal drew the impressive Jean-Paul Danneberg to a save, lunging to his left.

But 2-0 it was when Ruhr burst into the circle from the right and rifled to the far corner of the goal from a difficult angle to make for an emotional moment in the German camp.

Hardik Singh, as is his wont, was the buzz in the Indian midfield and a flowing run forced India’s first penalty corner which proved abortive.

Germany who forced 13 penalty corners in the match tallied six in the first quarter itself, indicating the sway they had on the proceedings thus far.

India, though, seemed to get their act together in the second quarter despite a green card to Sanjay and Harmanpreet fired his drag-flick to Danneberg’s left to make it 1-2 in the 19th minute.

Lalit Upadhyay fired waywardly five minutes later as India’s right-hand attack often had the German defence back-pedalling but two more penalty corners, taking India’s tally to four in the match, failed to alter the scoreboard – the last set-piece drawing a left glove save from Danneberg with half-time beckoning.

Germany kept the PC count going and captain Mathais Muller blasted a rebound off Pathak’s pad over the bar when ideally placed to score from his team’s 10th award.

India went close with Gurjant blasting a back-hand over and the omnipresent Harmanpreet sending his essay over with only seconds remaining for three-quarter time.

Craig Fulton, India’s South African coach, may have asked for more attacking intent during the chat between quarters, evident from a greater degree of incisiveness from his team.

Once again Hardik orchestrated a move down the middle and a square pass found Shamsher whose essay past Danneberg was directed into goal in the nick of time by a diving Sukhjeet to make it 2-3 and set up a grandstand finish.

Germany had their chances to regain a two-goal lead but Pathak was equal to Peillat’s drag-flick with a double-glove save to send the ball over.

The goalkeeper then departed to allow for 11 outfield players but Germany appeared to close out the match as the final seconds ticked away.

They did, but not before Harmanpreet’s last-ditch aerial ball into the circle led to a melee that ended Jarmanpreet agonizing after rattling the crosspiece with the last play of the match.