IRELAND 2 – 4 GERMANY
FIH Pro League
Bhubaneswar, February 25: Ireland Men narrowly lost out to current World Champions Germany in their final FIH Pro League match of the India stage. Ireland led on two separate occasions, first when Matthew Nelson opened the scoring in the first quarter, and then in Q2 when brother Ben Nelson fired home from close range. Germany responded on both occasions, which saw the sides enter half time on level pegging. Two goals in the final quarter, a controversially converted penalty corner and a penalty stroke saw Germany edge the tie and secure the points.
After a challenging result in their first encounter just 24 hours before, Ireland had a chance at redemption almost immediately in their rematch in the Kalinga Stadium, an opportunity they looked eager to seize. After some early chances for both sides, Ireland’s Matthew Nelson finished up a well worked move to give Ireland the lead at the end of the first quarter. Germany found the back of the net almost immediately, but the goal was chalked off upon review.
Germany eventually did get their equaliser in quarter 2, Erik Kleinlein firing a reverse shot into the roof of the net. Ben Nelson grabbed Ireland’s second from close range to restore Ireland’s one goal lead, but the lead was only temporary as Germany won a short corner with two minutes remaining in the first half, they opted for a variation executed well by Thies Prinz to put the sides back on level terms.
The third quarter was a cagey affair, with both sides happy to play patiently. Opportunities did come up both ends but neither could find the net.
Germany eventually seized control of the game in the final quarter, a fortunate penalty corner resulted in a controversial goal for the German’s giving them the lead after 49 minutes, for the first time in the game. Ireland continued to ask questions of the German defence which they found answers for on each occasion. Germany won a late penalty stroke when Michel Struthoff was brought down inside the penalty circle by Ben Ryder, with Germany’s Malte Hellwig converting the opportunity, secure the points for the current World Champions.
Speaking after the match, Head Coach Mark Tumilty said:
“The guys carried out the game plan very well in the first three quarters and were a little unfortunate to concede the second goal just before half-time.”
Commenting on Germany’s two goals in the final quarter, Tumilty said:
“The penalty corner for their third goal; could we have referred it? I am not convinced that it was trapped outside the circle. And that penalty stroke award for their fourth goal, I am not convinced that is a penalty stroke at this level.”
On the overall performance, Tumilty said:
“A disappointing result but a lot better than yesterday. That performance is a nice way to end this block and gives us something to build on ahead of the blocks in Antwerp and Amsterdam in June.”
IRELAND: Jamie Carr (GK); Matthew Nelson; Daragh Walsh; Kyle Marshall (C); Peter McKibbin; Ben Pasley; Jonathan Lynch; Ben Nelson; Ben Johnson; Ben Ryder; Nicholas Page.
SUB USED: Ben Walker [5 mins]; Peter Brown; [5 mins]; Ben Nelson [5 mins]; Louis Rowe [5 mins]; Luke Witherow [5 mins]; Adam Walker [5 mins].
GERMANY: Alexander Stadtler (GK); Thies Prinz; Benedikt Schwarzhaupt; Paul-Philipp Kaufmann; Teo Hinrichs; Gonzalo Peillat; Michael Struthof; Hannes Mueller (C); Malte Hellwig; Henrik Mertgens; Moritz Ludwig.
SUBS USED: Erik Kleinlein [3 min]; Niklas Bosserhoff [3 mins]; Elan Manzkour [3 mins]; Linus Mueller [4 mins]; Johannes Grosse [5 mins].