Pakistan stun hosts India to reach Hockey Champions Trophy Final

By Nick Butler

Pakistan stunned arch-rivals India 4-3 on enemy territory this afternoon to set up a surprise final with Germany at the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar.

As well as the political and historical significance, Pakistan will be delighted to gain revenge for a similarly nail-biting defeat to the Indians in the final of the Asian Games hockey competition in Incheon earlier this year.

It continued a remarkable turnaround after the Asian side lost all three of their Champions Trophy Group matches, including a humiliating 8-2 loss to England.

Although Pakistan showed good intent from the outset today, it was India who drew first blood as Gurjinder Singh fired home from the game's first penalty corner for a 1-0 lead.

Muhammad Arslan Qadir levelled things up in the second quarter before the two teams traded further goals, as there continued to be nothing between the two.

The crowd roared India on, but with just 90 seconds left, Qadir sealed the victory with his second goal of the game, before wild celebrations began among the Pakistani players.

"The last time we reached the Champions Trophy Final was in 1998 where we played against The Netherlands and we lost that game and I was the coach of that team too," said Pakistan coach Shaikh Shahnaz afterwards.

"Today again, my team has reached the finals and it's a proud moment.

"The German team is very strong with its strategies and we are aware of it and will work on it accordingly."

Germany celebrate semi-final victory over Australia ©FIH/Koen Suyk

A 3-2 German victory earlier in the day ensured the end of a golden Australian run which has consisted of five successive victories since 2008.

But the Germans, who had not finished on the podium in this event since a silver in 2009, started sensationally to take a 3-0 lead by the early stages of the second half, with Timur Oruz, Mats Grambusch and Florian Fuchs all finding the net.

As all Australian sporting teams tend to do, the defending champions did not give up, as first Chris Ciriello and then Nick Budgeon scored second half goals.