Defending champions pump in late goals to beat France 5-2 in Junior World Cup final
Germany successfully defended their hockey Junior World Cup title by beating France 5-2 in the final at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here
yesterday.'
Sleek work: Players of Germany (white) and France vie for the ball during the final yesterday
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This is Germany's sixth World Cup triumph in the format and they are far ahead of Pakistan, Australia, India and Argentina, who have
a title each.
Niklas Wellen slammed a brilliant hat-trick to guide defending champions. It was a befitting end to the tournament as both Germany and France dished out splendid hockey much to the delight of the sparse crowd present on a chilly night.
Germany rode on five goals which came from the sticks of Wellen (2nd, 44th, 46th minutes), Jonas Gomoll (60th) and Christopher Ruhr (68th). For France, Gaspard Baumgarten (16th, 40th) scored both the goals.
The summit clash between underdogs France and five-time champions was touted as a contest between David versus Goliath but it was not one as the French gave the Germans a run for their money, at least in the opening 35 minutes.
Cheered by their ambassador Michael Steiner, the Germans got off to an early lead when Wellen capitalized on a defensive lapse to score a field goal in the second minute.
But the Frenchmen were no mood to go down without a fight and proved the fancied Germans that they were no pushovers.
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