Bhubaneswar: Olympic champions Germany clinched the Hero Champions Trophy title with a convincing 2-0 win over Pakistan in the summit clash, snapping their five-year old jinx in the elite eight-nation event at the packed Kalinga Stadium, here today. Germany last won the Champions Trophy in 2007 edition in Kuala Lumpur and came close to the title two years later in Melbourne but ended second best, losing to Australia.
Overall, it was Germany's 10th Champions Trophy title. Pakistan, on the other hand, had bettered their bronze medal finish in the 2012 edition of the tournament in Melbourne by bagging the silver here. Christopher Wesley (18th minute) and Florian Fuchs (57th) scored for Germany. The Germans were by far the better side on the ground as they dominated the Pakistanis for most part of the match.
Cheered by an anti-Pakistan crowd, Germany controlled the match from the opening whistle while Pakistan hardly created any chances in the first 30 minutes.The Germans earned their first penalty corner in the opening minute but Christopher Ruhr?s flick was off the target. In the 13th minute Florian Fuchs missed an open chance. He snatched the ball upfront and stormed his way into the Pakistan D only to whack a reverse hit wide off the goal.
Germany soon won their second penalty corner but once again they wasted the opportunity as skipper Moritz Fuerste?s flick was saved by Pakistan goalie Imran Butt. But Germany finally took the lead in the 18th minute when an unmarked Wesley send the ball home after receiving a pass from Jonas Monoll.Therafter, Germany controlled the game to hold on to
their lead till the halftime.
