Tom Craig inspired Hamburger Polo Club as they roared back from a goal down to defeat Wimbledon 4-2, setting up a KO8 date with Saint Germain on Friday.

His raw speed and decisive passes were big factors for Polo as they proved too strong in the final reckoning for the English side who fought all the way.

The Londoners, indeed, took the lead in the ninth minute when Louis Tipper cleaned up off the pads from close range for a dramatic opening goal.

Then Toby Reynolds-Cotterill made a string of big saves from Polo corners as the German side initially found it tough to break through.

They did get on terms midway through the second quarter when Lukas Kossel was deemed to get the last touch from Tim Brand’s whack across the face of goal.

It had also gone in off a defensive foot which initially had umpire Sarah Wilson pointing for a penalty corner but she correctly self-reviewed and the ball had cross over the line before her whistle, allowing her to award the goal.

Into the second half, the German side adjusted their corner routines and it allowed Kane Russell the extra avenues to find the net, doing so twice in quick succession in the third quarter.

Paul Smith then made the result safe when he latched onto Craig’s glorious pass after a speedy run down the left.

Kei Kaeppeler pulled one back with an emphatic shot to cut the gap but Polo held out a couple of late corners to secure their place in the KO8.