New Delhi:
Defending Champions Germany scraped past a plucky Argentina 4-3 in a Pool A hockey World Cup match to brighten their chances for a semifinal berth.
In the battle between the top and bottom-ranked sides, world number one Germany were lucky to have won the match against Argentina making a lot of scoring chances and earning more penalty corners (five against three) at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
Germany, who were clinical in 6-0 drubbing of Canada in their second match, could not control the midfield and their goalkeeper Tim Jessulat saved the side on many occasions including a goal-line clearance in the dying moments.
Martin Zwicker (fifth and 14th minutes), Matthias Witthaus (23rd) and Martin Haner (51st) scored for Germany, while Lucas Martin Vila (sixth), Matias Enrique Paredes (34th) and Pedro Ibarra (55th) found the target for Argentina.
With today's win, Germany, gunning for a hat-trick of titles after their 2002 and 2006 triumphs, are on seven points from two wins and a draw, and are on course for a semifinal berth.
Argentina, on the other hand, are already out of semifinal contention having lost their earlier two matches.
Germany opened scoring in the fifth minute through Zwicker, who slammed home off the rebound of a Witthaus pass.
Argentina struck back immediately with Vila scoring the equaliser in the next minute with a reverse stick shot which beat German goalkeeper Jessulat.
In the 14th minute, Zwicker scored his second goal via a diving deflection to the right post off the second penalty corner shot of his side.
Argentina exploited the free space they got at the midfield and forced their first penalty corner in the 20th minute but German goalkeeper Jessulat saved the drag-flick with his stick.
Germany made it 3-1 in the 23rd minute with Witthaus taking a powerful running shot from the top of the striking circle into the bottom left corner of Argentine goal.
Argentina were not the one to be deterred and they reduced the gap a minute before the breather with Paredes guiding a deflected drag-flick off their second penalty corner into the German goal.
The second half began at a frantic pace but both sides failed to score for 15 minutes before Germany scored from their third penalty corner -- first of second session.
Harner slammed home from a nice penalty corner variation to make it 4-2 in the 51st minute.
Argentina responded four minutes later from their fifth penalty corner and specialist Ibarra's drag-flick went into the German goal after deflecting from a defender.