JOIN USOlympic champions Germany clinched the Hero Champions Trophy with a 2-0 win over Pakistan in the final at Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.
Germany, who had last won the trophy in Kuala Lumpur in 2007, now have 10 titles to their credit. The Europeans, coming into the meet with a significantly weakened team following the departure of several of their star players, began the tournament slowly but performed when it mattered.
After Christopher Wesley had given them the lead in the 18th minute, Florian Fuchs sealed the win three minutes before the end.
Pakistan, who finished third in Melbourne in 2012, did have the chance to set up an exciting finish when they got a penalty corner minutes before the hooter, but failed to make it count.
The Germans hit the ground running and Pakistan, who beat India 4-3 in a pulsating affair in the semifinals on Saturday, struggled to live with the pace of their more illustrious counterparts.
Cheered on by a capacity crowd, Germany earned their first penalty corner in the opening minute but Christopher Ruhr’s flick was wide off the mark. Fuchs had the chance to put Germany in front in the 13th minute but skewed his effort off target.
Germany may have wondered whether it was going to be one of those nights but soon Wesley put them ahead, a lead they held on comfortably before Fuchs’ second.