Four-Nation Hockey Tournament: Germany and England win to setup final clash
Germany powered its way into the final of the Four-Nation Men’s Hockey Tournament in Nottingham by beating Japan with a score of 4-2. The Germans started off well and launched a series of attacks as they made four attempts on goal in just three minutes but failed to convert.
It took the Japanese 15 minutes to recover when they launched their first attack. However, Kawakami put the shot wide of the goal. The Japanese settled well and made a few more advances which were snuffed out by the Germans. German Captain Max Muller controlled the game from the centre, feeding long balls to the wingers as they used the width to their advantage and initiated with some fierce attacks on the Japanese goal.
Germany was finally rewarded when their first goal which came in the 31st minute of the match through a penalty corner when Martin Zwicker deflected a shot from Furste. The first half ended with a 1-0 lead to Germany.
In the second half, Japan showed more intensity in their attack and had a few efforts blocked before they earned a penalty corner. Katsuyoshi Nagasawa scored the first goal for Japan which made it 1-1. Germany tried to find the lead once again and in the process, Tobias was green carded for playing some aggressive hockey. It took the Germans only 6 minutes to restore the lead when Felix Oldhafer converted a penalty corner from the back of the circle.
This time around, Germany did not give Japan any chance to equalize and four minutes later, Oskar Deeke scored the third goal for Germany after a flurry of quick passes. Germany added to their tally with a fourth goal with just 7 minutes left from time. Japan failed to clear their lines after a German penalty corner and Oldhafer collected the ball and scored his second goal of the game.
Kayukawa scored Japan’s second and last goal in the 6th minute of the match to restore some normalcy to their score sheet. Japan’s defeat had ensured that England needed a draw to reach the finals of the tournament. However, England left nothing to fate and won their place in the final by beating New Zealand in a 5-1 drubbing.
New Zealand’s early attack was their only chance of going into the lead when Hugo Inlgis won the ball at the top of the circle as he came in a one-on-one situation with the keeper. The English keeper came off his line to make a save and denied New Zealand the chance to score a goal. England launched a counter-attack and it took an equally good save on the other end by New Zealand goalkeeper Stephen Graham to keep the game at 0-0.
New Zealand could not resist for too long against the English attack as Simon Mantell converted a cross from Brogdon to go into the lead. Ashley Jackson put up another good performance and forced a few saves from Graham. After 21 long minutes, the game saw its first penalty corner.
Jackson, who is the regular penalty corner converter, dummied the move and allowed the ball to roll over to James Tindall who struck from the edge of the area and successfully put the ball into the goal. The German umpire awarded the goal despite protests from New Zealand players that the ball had to hit the board on the first attempt.
With 5 minutes to go in the first half, England won another penalty corner and this time Ashley Jackson hit a clean and unstoppable flick into the goal to take a 3-0 lead. New Zealand made two chances before the half but England defended its 3 goal lead.
Early in the second half, Jackson and Alastair from England received green cards. With nine men against eleven, New Zealand made the most of the opportunity which resulted in England giving away a scrappy goal. England however continued with their domination and scored two more goals. Jackson converted a penalty stroke while Tindall wrong footed the goalkeeper to easily grab the fifth goal.
The final will be played between England and Germany while New Zealand will play against Japan for the 3rd place play off.
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