Becker strikes four for rampant Germany

Hockey

Germany, Pakistan, the Netherlands and Great Britain, all potential semi finalists in the Atlanta Olympics, resumed battle in Amstelveen last night and Germany took just 10 minutes to establish their supremacy.

After surviving two early Pakistan sorties schoolboy Oliver Domke set up the opening goal for Andreas Becker. Pakistan equalised in the 19th minute when Shahbaz Ahmed converted Naveed Alam's neat slip pass, but the Germans led again before the interval when Becker scored his second from a penalty corner.

The Germans began the second half in rampant fashion and Domke put them further ahead with a spectacular shot into the roof of the net after nine minutes, following a drive forward by Christoph Bechmann.

Carsten Fischer added his name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute with a powerful penalty corner strike before Becker completed a hat-trick. As the game ended he added a fourth to give Germany a 6-1 win over the world champions.

Britain's coaches Jon Copp and James Duthie, watching before their game against the Dutch, could not fail to be impressed by the Germans' strong play and finishing. Copp, acknowledging little could be learned from their continually changing line-ups, commented: "They seem able to step up their play whenever they decide." Pakistan are sure to agree.