India suffered a narrow defeat in their second match of the four-nation hockey tournament in Hamburg on Saturday, going down 3-2 to hosts Germany in a keenly contested match.

India took the lead through Dilip Tirkey who converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. But world champions Germany scored two quick goals early in the second half to surge ahead. F Kuntz scored in the 36th minute and K Wein sounded the board five minutes later to push the Indians back.

Gagan Ajit Singh then scored a brilliant field goal to equalise for India in the 47th minute.

With less than ten minutes to go, Germany scored the winner. India made a series of attacks in the last minutes but did not succeed in finding the equaliser.

Despite the defeat, coach Rajinder Singh was happy with the team's performance and praised his boys.

"Our boys played wonderful hockey. We kept up the pressure on the Germans till the end. It was a match in which any side could have won," Rajinder Singh said.

"Playing Germany, who are the world champions, in their own country is not a very easy task. But our boys have been playing very well and today they showed that they are improving consistently."

India had thrashed Argentina 4-1 in their first game on Friday. Tomorrow, India take on Spain in their last match.