IPOH (Malaysia), March 23: World champion Germany held off a late Pakistan surge to open their campaign to defend the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a 4-3 win here Sunday.

Having won the world title last year in Malaysia, the Germans were the overwhelming favourites to win the 12th edition of the tournament and Sunday’s victory was a clear signal of their intention.

Pakistan had opened its campaign here Saturday with a 6-1 thrashing over New Zealand but failed to repeat its performance against the Germans.

Just five minutes into the encounter, Germany opened the account with a penalty corner conversion by Max Landshut before Sebastian Biederlack made it 2-0 through a field goal.

Pakistan have won the championships twice in 1999 and 2000 but their hope of regaining some of their past glory took a knock with the splendid performance by Germany, which banked on their clinical moves and ability to convert short corners into goals.

Three minutes after German’s second goal, Pakistan, who lost to Malaysia in the playoff for the bronze medal in the Asian Games last year, narrowed the gap with a well taken penalty corner by its 26-year-old Karachi player, Sohail Abbas.

But the goal failed to shake the Germans who relied on swift counter attacks and long passes to penetrate their opponents’ tight marking. Just one minute before the interval, Timo Wess strengthened their lead with the third goal, also from a penalty corner set piece.

The second half saw Pakistan attacking in numbers with a hope of at least snatching a draw as Kashif Jawwad scored the second, but Germany increased their goal tally with the fourth goal by Benjamin Koepp.

Pakistan made a last ditch attempt but only managed to score one in the 65th minute through Rehan Butt.

On the opening day Saturday, host Malaysia lost 0-2 to Asian Games champions South Korea.

The tournament was supposed to be a six-nation event but India pulled out at the 11th hour following an order by New Delhi to protest the alleged ill-treatment of Indian IT experts by police searching for illegal immigrants in Kuala Lumpur.—AFP