India beat New Zealand, go atop group

India recovered from conceding an early self-goal to prevail 4-2 over New Zealand and move to the top of Pool A in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament. The victory gave India six points from two matches, making them the only unbeaten team in the pool following England's surprise 4-1 win over Olympic champions Germany earlier in the day.

New Zealand took the initial lead in the third minute when India conceded a self-goal, which has been introduced into world level hockey after the Olympic Games. Rupinderpal Singh failed to cleanly stop Sardar Singh's back-pass in front of the goal and the ball trickled over the goal-line to concede India's first self-goal in international hockey.

New Zealand defence also wilted under pressure to give India the equaliser through a self-goal. Akashdeep Singh dived for a deflection on Sardar long through ball, which went into the goal off a defender to give India the equaliser in the 10th minute. A fine field goal by Gurwinder Singh Chandi (14th) and a penalty corner conversion by V R Raghunath (25th) gave India a 3-1 lead at the interval before New Zealand came back through a flash strike by Nicholas Wilson two minutes into the second half.

India put the game out of New Zealand's reach when Danish Mujtaba capitalised on a rebound from the goalkeeper on a pressing move in the 65th minute. This was India's second win in successive days, following the 3-1 win over England in their opening match.

Adam Dixon and Harry Martin scored early first-half goals four minutes apart as England beat London Olympic gold medal winners Germany 4-1.

England led 3-1 at halftime of the Pool A match after own goals by each team, then added the only goal of the second half after Germany's Niklas Grell was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the match.

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