MONDAY 26 Feb,2001: Experinced German team led by Michael Green started its India campaign on a winning note. In the first international match in many years in Mumbai’s Mahindra Stadium, Germany posted only goal of the match when five minute left for the hooter for its 33rd victory in 66 encounters.

The all important goal was scored by Bjorn Michel, second most experienced player after his captain Michael Green. He converted one of the teams five penalty corners. India got only two penalty corners as against five by the visitors. This was Michel’s 119th goal in 205 international matches.

It is a sweet revenge for the visitors as they lost to India in the early meet at Perth. In the four-nation final there on 17th April last year, India defeated Paul Lissek’s Germany 3-2, the winner by Dhanraj Pillay coming in the last minute of the game.