TOKYO (AP) — German men’s hockey men are at the Olympic tournament in Tokyo after a second win in the third game before entering the knockout rounds.

Coach Kais Al Saadi’s team won against Great Britain at the OE Hockey Stadium with a 5:1 (1:1) win and thus a very important victory in the fight for a good starting position for the quarter-finals. The other rivals are South Africa on Thursday and the Netherlands on Friday. Four teams from a group of six enter the knockout round.

Meanwhile, the German selection got off to a better start in rain from Tokyo, but was initially held back by a goal from Briton Philipp Roper (9th minute). Shortly before the end of the first quarter, Florian Fuchs leveled after a penalty corner (15th). In the second quarter, DHB selection survived a double deficit, with Christopher Ruhr taking the well-deserved lead (35th) after the break. Justus Weigand rose to 3:1 (42nd), with Fuchs reunited in the final leg (51st/60th).

The Al Saadi team reacted well to their first loss in the Olympic tournament against world champions Belgium (1:3) on Monday. Initially, the German selection won an inevitable 7–1 victory against outside Canada.

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