KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9: Germany defeated Australia 1-0 on Sunday to lift the Champions Trophy, winning the tournament for a record ninth time, as defending champions Netherlands took third place.

Timo Wess scored the lone goal of the final to give Germany its fifth victory over Australia out of the six times they have clashed in the final of the Champions Trophy.

The last time the two teams clashed in a Champions Trophy final was in 2001 at Rotterdam where also Germany pipped Australia 2-1. The two had played each other at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur five years ago when Germany had defeated Australia 2-1 to win the World Cup.

Germany got off to the best possible start when Wess flicked the ball past goalkeeper Stephen Lambert off Germany’s first penalty corner after five minutes. Wess was named player of the final.

The goal took the wind out of Australia as Germany dominated possession and nearly doubled its lead three minutes later when Florian Keller’s attempt was cleared away.

Lambert came to Australia’s rescue in the 15th minute with two great reflex saves, off Matthias Witthaus, who was chosen player of the tournament.

Australia nearly equalised in the 24th minute when Grant Schubert dribbled round German goalkeeper Christian Schulte and sent in a reverse hit but defender Max Muller managed to block the ball.

A minute later, Nathan Eglington was sent out for a foul on Benni Wess. Despite playing against 10 men for the remainder of the half, Germany failed to add to the score line.

Back to full strength after Eglington’s 26-minute absence, Australia began to dominate play but Schulte was outstanding as he repelled attack after attack to deny Jamie Dwyer, Travis Brooks and Edward Ockenden.

In the playoff for third place, Netherlands defeated South Korea 3-2 to avenge a 6-2 hammering during the group stage last Monday. Netherlands failed to make it to the top this year after reaching the final of the last five Champions Trophy tournaments.There was double joy in the Netherlands camp for penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema as he equalled the tournament record of 40 goals set by Pakistan’s Sohail Abbas.

Taekema’s goal in the 17th minute also meant he and South Korea’s Jang Jong-hyun were the leading scorers with seven goals apiece. Netherlands’ second goal was scored by Robert Reckers who rounded Ko Dong-sik before slotting home in the 26th minute.

Yeo Woon-kon gave South Korea some hope when he scored a minute after the break. Jeroen Hertzberger restored Netherlands’ two-goal lead in the 52nd minute when he reacted quickly after Taekema’s penalty corner attempt rebounded off the crossbar.

Lee Nam-yong pulled one more back two minutes from time but it was too little too late to change the outcome.

In the playoff for the fifth place, 2003 winner Spain edged Britain 4-2.

Meanwhile Pakistan avoided the last spot of the tournament when they edged Malaysia 3-2 thanks to a golden goal from Mohammad Imran who also gave the former champions the lead after seven minutes with Arshad Muhammad extending it in the 40th minute.

But the hosts fought back gallantly and two goals by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tegku Abdul Jalil in the 58th and 63rd minutes forced the game into extra time after which penalty corner specialist Muhammed Imran banged in the winner in the 73rd minute.

The last time Pakistan finished seventh was in 1987, the only other time eight teams have taken part in the Champions Trophy.

Spain, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and South Korea will now play next year’s Champions Trophy. The five teams will be joined by this year’s Champions Challenge winner, Argentina.—Agencies