World No 1 Germany survived a scare in the Hero Honda FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Monday, coming back strongly from a two-goal, first-half deficit to hold South Korea to a 2-2 draw in their opening match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Two-time defending champions Germany, hoping to complete a hat-trick of titles despite coming to Delhi with a relatively inexperienced squad, displayed their famed tenacity and scored through Florian Fuchs in the 50thminute and Benjamin Wess eight minutes later to make the score 2-2 after Korea had surged ahead in the first session.
Last edition’s semifinalists, South Korea came out with guns blazing and scored two goals within six minutes.
The Koreans, physical and speedy as usual, launched an early attack and earned their first penalty corner in the third minute. Hye Sung Hyun blasted home a superb drag flick to put Korea ahead. They scored once again in the 6 th minute when Lee NY struck home a spectacular reverse hit to make it 2-0 before the Germans could settle down. The Germans made some superb attacks and came close to scoring but Korean goalkeeper Lee Myung Ho was rock solid and made some good saves – especially two blocks off German Martin Haner.
Germany dominated the second session and earned six penalty corners. Though they failed to score off any of those, they managed to score through open play to keep their hopes alive. They also missed a few chances of sealing the issue in their favour in the last 10 minutes.
{{/usCountry}}Germany dominated the second session and earned six penalty corners. Though they failed to score off any of those, they managed to score through open play to keep their hopes alive. They also missed a few chances of sealing the issue in their favour in the last 10 minutes.
{{/usCountry}}Korea could still have clinched the issue if Nam Yong Lee had not fluffed the easiest of chances in front of the goal off a superb run by Yoon Sung Hoon in gthe 64th minute..
Result:
Germany 2 (florian Fuchs 50th min, B Wess 58th min) drew with Korea 2 (Hye Sung Hyun 3rd min pc, Lee N Y 15th min.