Deutschland - Malaysia 2:1 (1:1)

Saturday, 11.08.2007 - 15:30 in Mönchengladbach

A hard-fought win against Malaysia
Germany takes the lead in the playoff rounds

Just 18 hours after their disappointing exit from the race for the semi finals of the DKV Junior Trophy in Monchengladbach, the German U21 team had a hard-fought but well-earned 2:1 win against Malaysia. Linus Butt and Robin Joseph turned around the 0:1 disadvantage with their goals, which won victory for Ulrich Forstner’s team. Although after four games in five days, the German team didn’t always have the necessary concentration and sparkle to convert their superiority over Malaysia into goals.

Both Tims Stulle (GER) and Blasberg (GER) lurking on Muhammad Nor Hafiq Abdul Gaffar(MAS) © hockeyfocus.de
 

On Sunday at 11:00 there will be what is almost a mini-final game for the fifth place between Germany and England, because after their 5:2 win today against Poland, England is in second place in group C behind the German team. The Germans are the only team with six points to their credit and are therefore assured of the fifth place in the tournament, even if Sunday’s game is a draw. Before the start of the game against Malaysia, the superiority of the German team was obvious, but Forstner’s boys often came to grief with the combination game on their opponent’s 25 yard line. Malaysia played a much better game than during their catastrophic 2:8 against the Netherlands on Friday and were especially dangerous with their counters and single-handed dribbling from their strong attack players. These tactics resulted in the three penalty corners in the first half, which rather surprisingly put the visiting team in the lead. Keeper Nicolas Jacobi managed to hold the flat flick from specialist Abd Rahim, but was helpless against the rebound from Muhammad Adabi after 15 minutes. Malaysia almost took advantage of the temporary confusion in the German side to increase their lead to 0:2. Shortly afterwards Jacobi brilliantly held a penalty shot from Sarjab Singh. The German team then pulled itself together and managed to capitalise on the opportunities that arose, even though there were not as many of those as there had been during the excellent first half against India. Finally it was Linus Butt who managed to achieve the well-deserved 1:1 at half time with a slightly deflected flat shot from the edge of the circle after 30 minutes.

German Defence © hockeyimage.net
 

The hosts seemed to retain their superiority after the break. Robin Joseph sank the second penalty corner from the left side half-high into the right hand corner to gain the lead with 2:1. Even afterwards it was Forstner’s boys who kept the action going, but only with tremendous luck, because the Malaysian captain Mood Nohr managed to counter and after 52 minutes swept past the rest of the field, but his angled shot merely hit the right hand goalpost of the empty goal. Afterwards Germany again took control of the game, but without being able to add to the result. However, the fire had gone out of the game.

Muhammad Noor Kharul Azrain Adnan (MAS) and Martin Zwicker (GER) © hockeyimage.net
 

The Malaysian trainer Tai Beng Hai confirmed that his team were still motivated to do their best in the consolation rounds and that playing against Germany was difficult but good training for his team. Tomorrow against Poland they will continue to do their best and play attractive, attacking hockey.

The German trainer Uli Forstner said that it was noticeable at the beginning of the game that his team were still suffering the effects of Friday’s lost game, but still he was disappointed not to see the necessary fighting spirit in all his players. After this victory and a constructive team meeting, he expects to see stronger commitment in the potentially difficult game against England tomorrow.

Mohd Noor Zakuan Mohd Sharan (MAS) and Robin Joseph (GER) © hockeyimage.net
 

Torschützen/Scorers:
15.'   0:1   M. Adabi (PC)
30.'   1:1   L. Butt
44.'   2:1   R. Joseph (PC)

Strafecken/Penalty Corners:
Deutschland/Germany 5 (1 Tor/goal)
Malaysia 3 (1 Tor/goal)

Schiedsrichter/Umpires:
GROCHAL, Marcin (POL)
WRIGHT, Peter (RSA)

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