Pakistan 2 defeated Argentina 1
Goals: PAK - Rehan Butt FG 6m, Shakeel Abbasi PC 29m; ARG – Matias Cammareri PC 69m
In a match that had no bearing on tomorrow’s classification matches, Pakistan was the more adventurous team in the first half and held on to win 2-1 against Argentina.
Pakistan took the lead in the sixth minute with Muhammad Saqlain providing a goal from the left side for the second straight match, with Rehan Butt this time the recipient to tap the ball in from close range.
The second goal was scored when Sohail Abbas’ penalty corner attempt in the 29th minute was blocked by the Argentina runner. However the ball fell to Shakeel Abbasi at the top right of the circle and he beat Juan Manuel Vivaldi at the near post for a 2-0 lead.
Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar was again extremely solid, especially in the first half, with Argentina’s half chances easily parried to safety.
The second half looked like finishing scoreless until Matias Cammareri converted a low drag flick in the second last minute.
Argentina will get a chance to avenge today's loss when the teams meet again in tomorrow's fifth place playoff.
Netherlands 4 defeated Spain 3
Goals: NED – Rob Reckers FG 29m FG 70m, Roderick Weusthof FG 44m, Taeke Taekema PC 69m; ESP – Albert Sala FG 49m, Santi Freixa FG 55m, Pol Amat FG 58m
Two goals in the final two minutes has given the Netherlands a breathtaking 4-3 victory over Spain and qualified the world number two for their fifth consecutive Champions Trophy final.
In an astonishing contest, Spain recovered from a 2-0 second half deficit to score three quick goals and look destined to contest their second final in three years until their opponents mounted a last gasp challenge to steal victory.
The Netherlands perseverance was rewarded with Taeke Taekema’s flick giving them the lead in the 69tj minute and then Rob Reckers field goal on the stroke of full time adding insult to the Spanish pain.
In a double celebration, Dutch captain Jeroen Delmee broke the record for the most capped Netherlands men’s player of all time during the match; his 338th international appearance eclipsing the previous record held by Jacques Brinkman.
With the winner of the match earning a place in tomorrow’s final, the Netherlands handled the pressure better in the first half and were able to keep their composure at vital times to lead by a single goal at the break.
Long balls from Taekema out of defence to the Netherlands strikers troubled Spain, with the home team’s midfield allowing too much latitude and unable to cut off the avenues through the centre of the pitch.
Roderick Weusthof went close twice in the first 10 minutes for the Dutch but was denied by Spanish goalkeeper Bernardino Herrera and then the right post.
The Netherlands had the majority of possession in the first half with Spain unable to hold the ball in their attacking half for extended periods.
The first goal came six minutes before half time when Rob Reckers latched onto the end of a movement into the circle to lift the ball high into the net for a 1-0 lead; an advantage the Dutch held easily until the half time break.
Nine minutes into the second half Weusthof belatedly added his name to the scoresheet but it was worth the wait as he showed good control to receive at pass at the top of the circle and smash a reverse stick into the side netting inside the left post.
The turnaround began in the 44th minute when Albert Sala received a great angled pass to slot his shot comfortably into the net.
Inspired, Spain then dominated with Santi Freixa and Pol Amat scoring in quick succession for a 3-2 lead before Taekema showed calmness under pressure to convert his seventh drag flick of the tournament.
The Netherlands victory was soured somewhat with an apparent ankle to Robert van der Horst. The reigning WorldHockey Young Player of the Year was assisted from the pitch early in the second half with a left ankle injury and did not return.
Germany 4 defeated Australia 3
Goals: Matthias Witthaus FG 8m, Christopher Zeller FG 45 PC 70, Moritz Fuerste FG 55, Troy Elder PC 12m PC 49m PC 54m
Germany scored a dramatic penalty corner goal after the siren to defeat Australia and book at spot in tomorrow’s final.
Just as the defending champions looked to have done enough to hold out for the draw and a place in tomorrow’s final again the Netherlands, a lapse of concentration inside the circle allowed Germany to win a penalty corner with one second to go.
Christopher Zeller made no mistake to give Germany its first final berth in the Champions Trophy decider since 2002.
In a worrying sign with the World Cup just weeks away, it was the second time in the tournament that Australia allowed an opponent back into a match after doing enough to win.
Needing only a draw to advance to the final and a repeat of the decider at the past three major events, Australia began on the backfoot and allowed Germany to have most of the early territorial advantage.
Germany were able to hold Australia inside their own half during the first eight minutes before Matthias Witthaus found a hole in the Kookaburras defence to slot a neat reverse stick into the left corner and continue his strong form in the tournament.
A piece of poor goalkeeping gave Australia the equaliser in the 12th minute, with Troy Elder guiding a low straight drag flick through the pads of the German goalkeeper.
Another penalty corner close to half time also almost found its way through but alert defending on the line allowed Germany to clear.
Immediately after half time, Australian goalkeeper Stephen Mowlam made a pair of good saves as first Christopher Zeller and then Carlos Nevado failed with shots from close range.
However Mowlam couldn’t do anything in the 45th minute when Zeller raced around the back of the Australian defence on the right and finished extremely well with a high flick into the net from close range.
As they did in the first half, Germany couldn’t defend their lead for any length of time and conceded another penalty corner goal to Troy Elder, with the ball this time forcing its way through near the left post.
After standing on his line for Elder’s first two goals, German goalkeeper Christian Schulte changed his tactics for the Australia midfielder’s next attempt by running to the top of the circle, but the result was the same with the ball sliding along the carpet and clattering into the backboard.
No sooner had Australia taken the lead then they gave it back, allowing Moritz Fuerste a shot from close range to bring the score to 3-3.
A significant lack of composure in the final 10 minutes from Australia gave Germany the opportunity they needed and Zeller capitalise in emphatic fashion to complete a remarkable day’s play.
