Germany crush Pakistan to lift Champions Trophy title

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 in Bhubaneswar.

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.

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.

Thereafter, Germany controlled the game to hold on to their lead till the halftime.

After the resumption of play, Pakistan showed some fightback but killer instinct was missing in their game as the Germans defence stood like a rock.

Unlike the first half, the Pakistanis created a few openings but could not materialize them into goals.

In the fourth and final quarter, Germany won a penalty corner which was protested by the Pakistanis and went for the referral which went against them. But it did not hurt them much as Germany wasted the chance going for a dummy.

Germany got another penalty corner in the last 10 minutes of the match but Fuerste’s try was saved by Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt.

The Germans crashed Pakistan’s hopes in the 57th minute when Florian Fuchs scored with a firm hit from top of the circle after receiving an aerial ball from the back.

Minutes before the final hooter, Pakistan got a penalty corner but they failed to stop the push.