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NEW DELHI: India's dream of reclaiming the FIH Men's Junior World Cup after a hiatus of nine years went up in smoke as they lost 1-5 to seven-time champions and title holders Germany in the semifinal on Sunday.

The Indians had last won the Junior World Cup in 2016 in Lucknow.

Germany strike with intent

The ruthless Germans scored through Lukas Kossel (14th, 30th minutes), Titus Wex (15th), Jonas von Gersum (40th) and Ben Hasbach (49th).

India pulled one back in the 51st minute through a penalty corner conversion by Anmol Ekka.

India will now play Argentina for the bronze medal on Wednesday, while Germany will take on Spain in the final.

Spain had earlier defeated Argentina 2-1 in the first semifinal.

Early promise slips away

India started the match on a positive note but the Germans took charge as the game progressed.

Germany had the first shy at goal in the eighth minute but goalkeeper Princedeep Singh reacted well to block Ben Hasbach’s reverse hit.

Germany grew quickly in confidence and secured their first penalty corner in the 13th minute.

Germany earned a penalty stroke when a goal mouth flick from the set piece struck the body of an Indian defender. Lukas Kossel calmly converted.

Germany doubled the advantage at the end of the first quarter when Wex deflected in a cross from Kossel.

Just 11 seconds before half time, Germany earned their second penalty corner and Kossel again found the target, giving the holders a strong 3-0 lead.

Germany tighten the grip

India had a golden chance to reduce the deficit three minutes after the restart but Sourabh Anand Kushwaha miscontrolled in front of an open goal.

Germany continued to dominate as India struggled to find rhythm.

They earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 36th minute but failed to convert both.

Soon their pressure paid off in the 40th minute when Jonas von Gersum neatly deflected a high ball into the goal.

The Germans kept stretching the Indian defence and earned a fourth penalty corner in the 42nd minute, which India defended well.

Germany extended the lead to 5-0 in the 49th minute as Hasbach dived in to finish past goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh after receiving a long aerial pass.

Late consolation for India

Down and out, India secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 51st minute and Anmol scored from a smart variation.

The Indians tried to push forward thereafter but the contest had long slipped away.

(With PTI Inputs)