Germany set up Olympic gold medal rematch at Hockey World League event with victory over South Korea

Germany booked their place in the last four of the Hockey World League event with a 2-0 win over South Korea ©Getty Images

Olympic champions Germany set up a rematch of the London 2012 gold medal contest with The Netherlands as they reached the last four of the Hockey World League semi-final event with a 2-0 win over South Korea in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Germans, who finished second in Pool B, looked keen to return to form after an error-ridden group phase but the Koreans demonstrated their resilience, holding firm to ensure the contest was scoreless at the break.

They eventually went in front after 38 minutes as Niklas Wellen slotted the ball home following excellent work from Mathias Müller.

That goal seemed to give Germany renewed vigour and purpose and seven minutes later they doubled their advantage when captain Moritz Fürste converted a penalty corner.

Korea went in search of a way back in to the match but it proved elusive as Nicolas Jacobi in the German goal kept their attacks at bay.

“We were a bit nervous,” Fürste said.

“The pressure was high and it was obvious that we won’t win this match in the first ten minutes.

“We could have scored more goals.

“After the 2-0 it was important that we continue to play very concentrated.”

New Zealand and Canada could not find the net in regulation time which meant their quarter-final went to penalty strokes, and the match was won on the 28th shot as Adam Froese fired home to score the winning goal and send the Maple Leafs into delirium.

The Netherlands will get the chance to avenge their London 2012 gold medal match defeat to Germany when the two sides clash in the semi-finals ©FIH

On a packed day of action, Seve van Ass set the tone for the Dutch right from the off by opening the scoring seven minutes into their clash with Spain.

Mink van der Weerden put The Netherlands further ahead towards the end of the second quarter, cleverly flicking home from a penalty corner.

Spaniard Pau Quemada halved the deficit on 46 minutes, which set up a frenetic finale as they went in search of an equaliser.

Spain’s pursuit of a leveller would end up costing them dearly as the Dutch launched a counter-attack and Valentin Verga sealed his side’s place in the next round in the dying embers of the match.

Hosts Argentina are also through to the last four as they edged a narrow contest with Japan, eventually progressing courtesy of a 2-1 success.

Matias Paredes broke the deadlock early on but they were made to wait until the 52nd minute to extend their lead, and the crucial second goal came by virtue of a sneaky finish from Gonzalo Peilla.

Japan managed to pull one back through Toshiro Tachiban but it was too little, too late as the home side prolonged their stay in the competition.