Germany beat New Zealand to become the first team from their group to enter the World Cup semifinals.

By Anshul Baijal

Germany booked a place in the semifinals of the hockey World Cup after beating New Zealand 5-2 in their last Group A game at Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Tuesday.

Christoph Menke, Florian Fuchs, Phillip Witte, Moritz Furtse and Matthias Witthaus scored to help the Germans reach their 11th straight semifinal. Shea McAleese and Wilson Nicholas were on target for the Black Sticks, but could not prevent them from getting knocked out.

The Germans were on the offensive from the word go, making frequent raids into the Kiwi circle. Their persistent attack paid dividends in the 15th minute as Menke slotted in a beautiful pass from Fuchs to make it 1-0.

They should have made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute when Fuchs released Jan-Marco Montag but the latter's reverse flick went wide.

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Six minutes later, it was Fuchs' turn to get his name on the scoresheet. He volleyed a rebound from close range into the net to score his fourth goal of the tournament. He is also the highest goalscorer for Germany at this World Cup.

The Kiwis should have pulled a goal back in the 34th minute, but Nicholas Wilson was denied by the German keeper Tim Jessulat.

Germany, looking to become the first team to win three consecutive World Cup titles, continued attacking in the second half.

The Olympic gold medallists scored their third goal in the 47th minute when Witte scored off a beautiful pass from Jan Philipp Rabente.

The Kiwis pulled a goal back four minutes later. McAleese put the ball home off a deflected drag flick from Andrew Hayward.

Wilson reduced the deficit to one in the 54th minute when he capitalized on a lost ball in the midfield and slammed it past the keeper.

The Germans restored their two-goal advantage in the 63rd minute when Furtse scored off a penalty corner.

Witthaus scored his team's fifth in the very next minute to make sure they become the first team from Pool A to enter the last-four.

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