A remarkable three-goal volley from Germany in the last 10 minutes saw the men’s EuroHockey Championship hosts storm back from 2-0 down to defeat France.
A pair of French corner goals seemingly looked set to spoil the hosts party but struck three times between the 50th and 55th minute to grab a vital win.
In the first half, Corentin Sellier went close first when France affected to a strong counter-attack and he raced into the circle with his backhand shot fizzing just by the post.
At the far end, Corentin Saunier made a pair of outstanding saves, a double-block from Justus Weigand first of all and then from Paul-Phillip Kaufmann at close quarters.
Germany had spent much of the first half on the attack but the French defence held firm before taking the initiative in the third quarter.
They scored both of their first two corners, the first going in off François Goyet after a Victor Charlet’s drag-flick took a couple of ricochets.
Charlet’s next one was more direct, finding its way through Jean-Paul Danneberg along the ground for a 2-0 lead.
But no sooner had they built that lead than they were behind. Justus Weigand finished off a great move and then Gonzalo Peillat slammed in a corner flick to make it 2-2, digging them out of a hole three minutes after they were two down.
And, with five minutes left, Germany were in front for the first time when Michel Struthoff powered through a tackle and shot to the back post where Weigand was waiting to deflect in again.
