(BEIJING, August 21) — Spain and Germany fought back from the brink of defeat to set up the gold medal match in the Men’s Hockey competition at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium on Thursday, August 21. World champions Germany, trailing by a goal four minutes from the end, overcame the Netherlands 4-3 in the penalty shootout after the sides drew 1-1. Spain went 2-0 down against defending champions Australia but fought back brilliantly to snatch a 3-2 win in the second semifinal.

The Spaniards, seeking their maiden gold medal, showed character after conceding goals in the first minute of both halves. Des Abbott and Eddie Ockenden gave Australia a 2-0 lead, but had no answer to the individual brilliance of Spanish forwards, Eduard Tubau, who scored twice to equalize, and Santiago Freixa, who netted the match-winner two minutes from time.

In the other semifinal, Germany’s goalkeeper Max Weinhold emerged as the hero as he saved three attempts during the shootout. The victory was also Germany’s first Olympic win against the Dutch since Tokyo 1964 and gives Germany its first entry into the final since Barcelona 1992, where they won the gold medal.

Taeke Taekema, the hero of many a Dutch win, was the culprit as he failed to convert in sudden death. Timme Hoyng scored for the Dutch in the 66th minute and Philipp Zeller of Germany equalized two minutes later to force extra time.

The teams tied 3-3 during the penalty tie-breaker as Weinhold of Germany and Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels of Netherlands made two saves each before Weinhold’s decisive third stop.

The first match of the day had Belgium and Canada battling for ninth and 10th spots. Belgium thrived in the wet conditions and outplayed Canada 3-0 with Belgium’s Jerome Dekeyser scoring twice and John Dohmen once to finish a creditable ninth. Canada ended their campaign on a disappointing note in 10th spot, with a missed penalty stroke from Wayne Fernandes of Canada not helping their cause.

Both teams finished in the same positions as they did the last time they participated in the Olympics. Belgium last participating in the Olympics at Montreal 1976 while Canada competing at the 2000 Sydney Games.

New Zealand beat Pakistan 4-2 in the Classification 7-8 match. Pakistan finished the Olympics in eighth, their lowest position in 15 Olympic appearances, after the loss to New Zealand. Hayden Shaw of New Zealand converted two penalty corners, while his compatriot Simon Child and Gareth Brooks were also on target for the Kiwis. Pakistan, after missing many chances in the first half, improved in the second half as Syed Abbas Haider Bilgrami and Rehan Butt scored.