Netherlands 4 S. Korea 2

COLOGNE (Germany), Sept 5: Matthias Witthaus scored in the last second of play as title holders Germany qualified for the final of Champions Trophy hockey tournament with another late victory on Thursday, 3-2 over Australia.

Witthaus’ shot seemingly took a deflection from Australian captain Paul Gaudoin for the winner after Oliver Domke had levelled for the world champions at 2-2 just three minutes earlier, in the 67th.

The Commonwealth Games champions Australia seemed on course to their first win at the tournament when Jamie Dwyer (18th) and Andrew Smith (57th) reversed Germany’s early lead from Sascha Reinelt.

In the final Sunday, the Germans are likely to face the Netherlands as the Olympic champions positioned themselves well with a 4-2 victory over South Korea in day’s other game from doubles by tournament top scorer Taeke Taekema (six goals) and Bram Lomans.

Germany have a maximum 12 points and the Dutch 10 heading into their meeting on the final day of group action Friday.

The Dutch can likely even afford a defeat because they have a vastly superior goal difference of India, who have seven points and meet Korea (three points) Friday.

Australia have zero points and must beat Pakistan (three) if they want to avoid relegation in the elite tournament.

The late German victory Friday brought back memories of their first two games with India and Pakistan which they also won in the closing stages.

Germany defeated Australia in the finals of the 2001 Champions Trophy and the 2002 World Cup, but the Koobaburras seemed to get their revenge when Dwyer and Smith gave them a 2-1 lead.

Smith’s goal was especially sweet as it was only their second successful penalty corner in 33 attempts at the tournament.

But the Germans finally prevailed and now stand the chance to win the tournament a record ninth time.

The Dutch, meanwhile, took a giant step towards their place in the gold medal match with their win over the Koreans when Taekema and Lomans gave them a quick 2-0 lead off penalty corners in the opening seven minutes.

South Korea halved the deficit in the 15th from Kang Keon Wook in their in their bid to make the final, but second-half penalty strokes from Taekema and Lomans decided the affair. Yeo Woon Kon scored the other Korean goal.—dpa