Germany too good for Australia

Our Correspondent

Oliver Domke and Bjorn Michel scored a brace each as Germany thrashed Australia 6-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah men's hockey tournament at the National hockey stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.

The victory put the Germans atop the seven-team field with six points from two matches. On Friday they had beaten India 2-0.

South Korea are in second place with four points from two matches.

Germany got off to a rousing start, scoring in the fourth minute itself from a penalty-corner. Bjorn Michel beat Australian 'keeper Jaime Dwyer after a neat setpiece move.

The Aussies, who beat Paklistan 5-3 on the opening day of the tournament, pressed hard thereafter for a reply to that goal but were unable to succeed. During that period they almost conceded another goal, in the 22nd minute, but Dwyer did well to pad a stiff shot from Matthias Witthaus.

But in the 24th minute, their efforts paid off when Troy Elder sounded the board from a penalty-corner (1-1).

Domke then got the first of his two goals in the 28th minute after being fed by Sebastian Biederlack (2-1).

Three minutes before the breather, Witthaus made it 3-1.

Bjorn Michel put the Germans in command in the 44th minute with his second goal before Elder could add another goal to his name three minutes later form a penalty-corner to pull one back for the Aussies.

But that was the best Australia could come up with. Domke and Jamilon Moulders added two more goals, in the 56th and 60th minutes respectively, to complete the rout.

Sunday fixtures: Malaysia vs South Korea; Australia vs England; Pakistan vs India.

Complete Coverage: Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, 2001