India loses 2-4 to Germany in Punjab Gold Cup hockey

India loses 2-4 to Germany in Punjab Gold Cup hockey
Chandigarh, Feb 6 (PTI) India suffered their first defeat in the Punjab Gold Cup hockey, going down 2-4 to World champions Germany here tonight.The hosts have eight points from five matches and will have to wait for tomorrow to see if they can seal a berth in the finals against Holland on Monday.Holland secured a berth in the finals, defeating New Zealand 4-1 in an earlier match today. They now have 11 points.India will take on New Zealand, while Germany and Holland will face off in the sixth and last match in the second leg between tomorrow.India just needs a draw tomorrow to reach to nine points, while a win for Germany will give them three points taking them to eight points.India would be hoping that Germany does not beat undefeated Holland by a huge margin and that they themselves don't lose badly to Kiwis as the second finalist will be then decided on the basis of better goal difference.India draw first blood in the 12th minute when Tushar Khandekar sounded the post with his reverse hit that beat German goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi but the joy was shortlived as the Germans found the equalizer in the 14th minute through Jan Philipp Rabente. PTI