Germany (World Ranking: 6) sealed their place at the top of the Pool D standings with a 5-3 victory over Malaysia (WR:12), but they certainly did not have everything their own way. Die Honamas were outstanding in the first period, with Timm Herzbruch finding the roof of the net from a penalty corner in the opening minute before Christopher Ruhr crashed an unstoppable backhand effort into the top left corner just before the end of the quarter. Ruhr played a decisive role in Germany’s third goal, surging into the circle before seeing his cross-shot touched home by Marco Miltkau.

At 3-0, things were looking bleak for Malaysia, who desperately needed at least a draw if they were to have a realistic chance of reaching the knock-out phase. Remarkably, they dragged themselves back into the game with two goals just before half time. Razie Rahim scored the first before setting up the second, finding the goal with a penalty corner before providing the perfect assist for the diving Nabil Noor from another penalty corner situation.

The two sides traded goals in the third quarter, with Miltkau once again showing his incredible reflexes to touch home another cross to make it 4-2 before Razie netted another to keep Malaysia within touching distance at 4-3.

Malaysia found themselves reduced in numbers due to disciplinary cards for much of the final quarter, but that did not stop them having a great chance to pull his team level from a penalty corner situation. The effort was charged down, with Germany going straight down the other end to kill the game at 5-3 thanks to Herzbruch’s second goal of the day to all but end Malaysia’s hopes of remaining in the competition. Tobias Hauke today achieved a personal milestone by making his 300th international appearance for Germany.

Pakistan (WR:13) knew that by avoiding a heavy defeat against the Netherlands (WR:4) they would be certain of a place in the knock-out phase of the competition. A win against the Netherlands would be enough to move ahead of the Dutch into second place in the Pool, which would set-up a cross-over match against Canada, who finished third in Pool C, as opposed to Olympic silver medallists Belgium, Pool C’s second-placed finisher.

The Netherlands were first to make a mark on the scoreboard when Thierry Brinkman netted from close range just seven minutes into the contest, but two minutes later Pakistan’s Umar Bhutta restored parity from a second phase penalty corner situation, sliding the ball under the body of onrushing Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak from a tight angle.

Pakistan gave an excellent showing in the second period, but it was the Dutch who took a 2-1 lead into half time when a beautiful interchange between Valentin Verga and Player of the Match Seve Van Ass ended with the former firing a cool finish between the legs of Green Shirts shot-stopper Imran Butt.

The Netherlands confirmed a second-place finish in Pool D with three goals in the second half, with Jeroen Hertzberger supplying Bob de Voogd for an easy finish before Jorrit Croon forced home a penalty corner from close range. A 5-1 score-line was completed by Mink van der Weerden, who slammed a stunning penalty corner into the roof of the net. It was the final goal of the pool phase, with total number of goals scored so far in Bhubaneswar being 111.

RESULTS:

Dec 9 (Match No 23, Pool-D): Germany (Timm Herzbruch 2-PC, 59-FG; Christoper Ruhr 14-FG, 18-FG; Marco Miltkau 39-FG) beat Malaysia (Razie Rahim 26-PC, 42-PC; Nabil Noor 28-PC) 5-3. PoM: Christoper Ruhr (Germany).
Dec 9 (Match No 24, Pool-D): Netherlands (Thierry Brinkman 7-FG, Valentin Verga 27-FG, Bob de Voogd 37-FG, Jorrit Croon 47-PC, Mink van der Weerden 59-PC) beat Pakistan (Umar Bhutta 9-PC) 5-1. PoM: Seve van Ass (Netherlands).
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TOP: Players of Netherlands take a selfie after their win over Pakistan on December 9, 2018.
RIGHT: Christoper Ruhr (Germany) receives the Player of the Match award from Odisha Pradesh Congress president Niranjan Patnaik on Dec 9, 2018.