Bhubaneswar: The Germans can never be counted out. Australia learnt that harsh truth at Kalinga Stadium here on Friday evening as Germany sneaked into the Odisha FIH World Cup final with a 3-2 victory, the winning goal coming 5 seconds before the final hooter.
Germany await the winners of the second semifinal, between Belgium and The Netherlands, the finalists of the 2018 Bhubaneswar World Cup.
In a humdinger of a semifinal, Australia looked to be comfortably placed midway through the third quarter as they led 2-0, thanks to a goal each from Jeremy Hayward and Nathan Ephraums in the first two quarters.
But like in the quarterfinal against England, Germany kept believing and levelled scores with Peillat’s penalty corner strikes in the 43rd and 52nd minute.
When Blake Govers restored Australia’s lead in the 58th minute, time seemed to be running out for Germany.
But no, they kept pressing and Peillat utilised another penalty corner, Germany’s 13th, in the 59th minute.
As Australia went a man down with Tom Craig being shown the green card for the final minute, Germany raided the rival territory and scored through Niklas Wellen seconds before the match was to go into a penalty shootout.
