Of course the fixture would always bring back reminders to the epic tussle at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but in truth both teams had huge changes and that encounter should not give any sort of guideline to this game.

In arguably the best opening quarter of the FIH Pro League so far, South Africa competed superbly and created a number of circle penetrations, while also stopping the dangerous German penetrations in an evenly matched opening quarter.

The hard work was undone early in the second half when Germany were awarded a penalty corner, their first of the night, and Luis Gill smashed it home superbly to give the Germans the lead. To their credit, the hosts continued to fight and create a lot of dangerous possession without really testing Niklas Garst on his international debut. However, when Garst was called on with just two minutes after a Dayaan Cassiem moment of magic, he pulled a superb save. However, the South Africans managed to turn that possession and momentum into a goal when skipper Keenan Horne reacted brilliantly and finished off the top post and sidebar. Germany then had a late penalty corner in the half but were unable to convert after a good first wave run. 1-1 was the score at the break.

Germany would run into the distance, though in the third quarter scoring three unanswered goals. First from a deflected penalty corner variation and then from two almost identical field goals from the left which were tapped home. It was a disappointing quarter for the South Africans who had competed so well to get back into the game.

The South Africans appeared to have run out of steam and the Germans were taking the opportunities as they presented themselves. Both Niklas Wellen and Timm Herzbruch managed to get themselves on the scoresheet to add gloss to a second half domination. A late penalty corner chance went astray. It turned out to be a deserving victory for the Germans on the back of a wonderful second-half display. For the South Africans they will look at the first half and try to find a way to package it for a full 60 minutes.

For South Africa, there are two games remaining in their home leg of their first-ever FIH Pro League as they play France and Germany one more time.