Lacklustre India relied on a 69th minute goal byforward Gagan Ajit Singh to rekindle their hopes of breaking the ChampionsTrophy jinx with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Germany in the Champions Trophy at Amstelveen.
Required to put their best foot forward after theagonising 3-4 defeat against Holland in the lung opener, the Indians were a paleshadow of themselves and were lucky to record their first victory in a matchwhich seldom rose to great heights.
Live wire Gagan Ajit struck the match winner barely aminute before the hooter to save the day for the Indians who appeared to betotally clueless against a second string German side, who were undaunted byIndia's reputation as a hockey powerhouse.
The shocking loss against the hosts yesterday seemed tohaunt the Indians as they failed to find any momentum in the opening sessionwith most of their goal-bound moves lacking sting. The Germans dominated formost part of the contest as the Indians played with little purpose orimagination.
Trailing by a solitary goal scored by Benedikt Sperlingat the half-time, the Indians restored parity early in the second sessionthrough Gagan Ajit but the unfancied Germans took the lead again when AlexanderSahmel converted a penalty stroke in the 46th minute.
The Indians, desperate to deny any space near the goalmouth to the rampagingGerman defenders, erred in pulling down an opposition player prompting thereferee to award a penalty stroke against them.
Prabhjot Singh equalised a few minutes later when heslammed the ball into a vacant goal much to the relief of the Indians, who werebeginning to look desperate as the clock ticked away.
India scored the winner when Gagan Ajit, getting a passfrom Baljit Singh Dhillon from outside the circle, dribbled past a couple ofplayers before slamming home.
Earlier, Winger Rehan Butt slammed a backhander 84seconds from the close to fetch Pakistan a thrilling 6-5 victory againstArgentina while veteran Teun de Nooijer masterminded a brilliant 5-3 win forholders Holland against Australia.
PTI
