IPOH (Malaysia), May 24: Pakistan hockey team in their opening match of the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup beat Argentina 4-2 here on Thursday.

The first goal of the match was scored by Pakistan as Shafqat Rasool put in a cross through to Mohammad Irfan who made the score 1-0 a minute before half-time.

Sohail Abbas made it 2-0 in the 50th on a penalty corner.

Argentina were awarded a penalty corner in the 53rd minute and Gonzalo Peillat scored to make the score 2-1.

Argentina fought back to equalise in the 62nd minute as Mathias Paredes scored.

However, the green-shirts fought back and Haseem Khan put them ahead again in the 65th minute and a few minutes later Mohammad Waqas solidified their lead as he scored the fourth goal, resulting in a 4-2 win for Pakistan.

Pakistan will play their next match against New Zealand on Sunday.

In another match, a depleted New Zealand thrashed India 5-1.

Indian coach Michael Nobbs said his side made the Kiwis look good with their below-par performance on the blue pitch, similar to that which will be used at the upcoming Olympics.

Nobbs will be hoping for far better show from the fallen giants at London 2012.

“There was no issue with the blue pitch but we did not play well at all,” he said.

“We made them look good. We gave away the ball too easily and also made several errors in our half. It is always difficult when you do not convert your chances when you have them.”

The world’s seventh-ranked New Zealanders took the lead after just 45 seconds through Simon Child but India went level soon after as Shivendra Singh scored in the sixth minute.

But the Black Sticks reeled off four unanswered goals through Andy Hayward, Nick Wilson, Stephen Jenness and Matt L’huillier to rout the 10th-ranked Indians in the Malaysian city of Ipoh.

New Zealand dominated despite having only 16 players available for the match as Blair Hilton was ruled out with an appendicitis and his replacement Shay Neal was still en route at game time, while Hugo Inglis could not play due to illness.

In the final match of the day, hosts Malaysia held South Korea to a 1-1 draw despite fielding several young players including three who earned their first international caps.

India play South Korea on Friday while New Zealand face Argentina. The other match will see Britain playing their first game, against the hosts.

Results: Pakistan 4 (Mohammad Irfan 34, Sohail Abbas 50, Abdul Haseem Khan 65, Mohammad Waqas 69) Argentina 2 (Gonzalo Peillat 53, Mathias Paredes 62).

India 1 (Shivendra Singh 6) New Zealand 5 (Simon Child 1, Andy Hayward 35, Nick Wilson 58, Stephen Jenness 61, Matt L’huillier 65). South Korea 1 (Seo Jong-Ho 7) Malaysia 1 (Faizal Saari 56).—Agencies