IPOH (Malaysia), May 14: Three-time champions Pakistan lost a thrilling match against Belgium by 3-5 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament on Wednesday, as Argentina downed New Zealand to qualify for the final.

With the defeat, Pakistan have 10 points from five matches and they need a win over India in their last match today to seal a place in the final.

Thomas Briels (2nd), John-john Dohmen (18th), Charles Vandeweghe (24th), Jerome Dekeyser (37th) and Loic Vandeweghe (69th) scored for Belgium while Shakeel Abbasi (4th), Rehan Butt (23rd) and Mohammad Atiq (35th) were the scorers for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Argentina exacted sweet revenge over New Zealand to register their fourth win, booking their place in the final.

Argentina top the seven-nation standings with 13 points from five matches after their 2-1 win, with another match in hand against Canada on Saturday.

New Zealand, who will feature in the Beijing Olympics, only have three points from a win and three defeats.Argentina, who failed to qualify for the Olympics after losing 2-3 to the Kiwis in the final of the qualifiers in Auckland in February, went on the offensive from the very start.

Forward Martin Juan Lopez gave Argentina the lead in the ninth minute, breaking through the Kiwis’ defence by beating two players before pushing the ball into goal.

Eight minutes later, they increased the lead off a penalty stroke.

Argentina’s Ignacio Juan Gilardi was brought down in the ‘D’ and umpire Peter Alan Wright of South Africa awarded a penalty stroke which Gilardi easily flicked it to the right, giving no chance to goal-keeper Paul Woolford.

New Zealand, however, managed to pull one back through Benjamin Collier in the 27th minute from the top of the ‘D’.

After the breather, the Kiwis surged their forwards in search of goals and earned five penalty corners, but goalkeeper Manuel Juan Vivaldi stopped all attempts.

Argentine coach Jose Carlos Retegui said they were delighted to avenge their defeat by the Kiwis to reach their first ever final in the tournament.

“We started off well by taking a 2-0 lead but in the second half my players were exhausted because of the humid weather,” said Retegui.

“It was difficult to play in such hot conditions. Besides that, it was also our fifth match in six days.”

Retegui further said goal-keeper Manuel Juan Vivaldi was the toast of the team for saving five penalty corners in the second half.

“I am overall happy with the team performance in five matches. We will go all out to beat Canada in the last match on Saturday to stay unbeaten,” he said.

Results:

Argentina 2 New Zealand 1

Belgium 5 Pakistan 3.

—AFP