Argentina shock Pak to stay in race

The remaining two Olympic berths will go to the winners of Saturday’s play-offs: Britain versus Argentina and Malaysia versus Japan.

The six qualifiers will join the six direct entrants — holders Holland, hosts Australia and continental champions India, Germany, Canada and South Africa — at the Olympics in September.

If the South African Olympic committee stand by their decision not to field the men’s hockey team, the seventh-placed team here will make the trip to Sydney.

The Argentines, who would have been knocked out of the race had they lost, defeated Pakistan for the first time since a 3-1 triumph at the 1986 World Cup in London.

The unexpected success gave Argentina third place in Group B — above Malaysia on goal difference — while Pakistan were left facing a tough semi-final against South Korea on Saturday.

The other semi-final will feature Spain against Poland the same day. The final is scheduled for Monday.

Argentina, rising to the occasion in the make-or-break tie, led 3-2 at half-time of a match played in heavy rain. The tournament’s leading scorers Sohail Abbas and Jorge Lombi each scored their 10th goal to make it 1-1 by the 18th minute.

Maximo Pellegrino and Santiago Capurro increased the margin for Argentina, before Mohammad Anis pulled one back for Pakistan just before half-time.

Capurro scored his second goal to put Argentina 4-2 ahead in the 46th minute, but not even a goal by Mohammad Nadeem three minutes before the final whistle could save Pakistan.

Pakistan were, however, angry that the umpires reversed their own decision to award a penalty stroke in the second half after a stinging shot by Abbas was blocked above the shoulder by Carlos Retegui.

“It may have been a different match had that stroke been allowed, which it should have,” Pakistani manager Islahuddin Siddiqui said. “But, I must concede that Argentina played better than us and deserved to win.”

Argentina’s coach Alejandro Verga said he too would have protested if a stroke had been awarded to his team and then taken away. Poland, meanwhile, banked on a missed penalty stroke by Ryan Archibald in first five minutes to overcome New Zealand.

Krzysztof Wybieralski scored once in each half for Poland while Archibald made amends for the earlier error with the lone goal for the Kiwis six minutes from the end.

In the day’s last match, Japan scored two goals in the last six minutes to force a 3-3 draw on Belgium and finish third in Group A. It was the first point for Belgium after four successive defeats.