Hockey World Cup 2010 - - Pakistan Finished Last in the Pool A as India Managed to Draw With South Africa

NEW DELHI: Favourites Australia sweated to a 2-1 win over Pakistan on Monday to join England in the semifinals while India’s 3-3 draw with South Africa condemned the Greenshirts to sixth place in Pool B in the men’s Hockey World Cup.

Veteran penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas put a rejuvenated Pakistan ahead in the 24th minute, before Desmond Abbott scored twice in the second half to clinch victory for the Kookaburras.



European champions England, who had won all four previous matches, crashed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Beijing Olympic silver-medallists Spain in their last match. Pau Quemada converted a penalty corner in the 35th minute and Eduard Tubau increased the margin six minutes before the end against an English team already assured of a semifinal berth.

Both England and Australia ended the league on 12 points each, but the Kookaburras took top spot in the group by virtue of a superior goal difference of plus-17 against their rivals’ plus-5.Spain finished third in the group with nine points to ensure themselves a top-six finish in the tournament.

Hosts India claimed the fourth spot after a thrilling 3-3 draw with South Africa, who finished fifth and relegated Pakistan to sixth place. After Lloyd Norris-Jones had put South Africa ahead in the seventh minute, Sarvanjit Singh and Diwakar Ram struck in quick succession to give India a 2-1 lead at the interval.

South Africa, who had beaten Pakistan earlier in the league, made it 3-2 through Justin Reid-Ross and captain Austin Smith, before Shivendra Singh equalised for India four minutes from the end.

India and South Africa both ended with four points, but the hosts had a better goal difference of minus-4 and compared to the Africans’ minus-15.

Australian captain Jamie Dwyer said the match against Pakistan gave them an opportunity to try the reserves. “It was not a great game, but it is nice to finish at the top of the group,” he said.

“But a semifinal is a different competition altogether. You can’t afford to have a bad day. The opponents we face will be tough to beat, whoever they are.” Abbas said Pakistan lacked consistency. “We play well one day, and very bad the next day,” he said. “The team lacks co-ordination. There is a lot of hard work ahead for us.”