Pakistan started the tournament with an unimpressive 3-1 win over minnows Belgium before a 2-1 close victory against rank outsiders Chile but lost to Australia 3-2 when they needed a win.

In the next pool phase, Pakistan again began shakily, first losing to Germany 2-0, before a 1-1 draw with yet another lowly-rated Argentina which threw the green shirts out of semifinal contention.

A 2-1 victory was the only consolation against Malaysia in the last second round game Pakistan had, but it was too late and the result did not do much for the team.

Friday’s loss against the Dutch has now forced Pakistan to play South Korea for seventh place playoff on Sunday as the Koreans lost to Germany 5-4 courtesy a golden goal by skipper Sebastian Draguhn four minutes into the extra time.

Although Pakistan got off to a confident start when they scored through penalty corner striker Mohammad Imran whose drag-flick sailed past Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann in the 24th minute, they surrendered tamely when the Dutch opened the floodgates.

While Pakistanis managed to keep intact the slim lead till the breather, they buckled under Dutch pressure after restart conceding four goals.

Dutch skipper Horst slammed home his first from the penalty corner variation in the 42nd minute, while Wouter van Straten spoiled Horst’s hat trick when he slotted home off a quickly taken free hit under the pads of Pakistan goalkeeper Nasir Ahmad in the 51st minute.

Dutch knocked the life out of Pakistanis with two rapid-fire goals within the space of three minutes.

Horst cashed in on a defensive lapse when he came into action for his second from yet another short corner drill in identical fashion to his first goal in the 53rd minute.

Pakistan captain Shakeel Abbasi, who remained below par throughout the tournament, was yellow carded in the 56th minute.

Shakeel’s temporary suspension was followed by a penalty stroke conversion by Dutch captain that completed the tally. The Netherlands now face Germany in fifth place playoff on Sunday.

Pedro Ibarra fired home a golden goal six minutes into overtime to guide dark horses Argentina into final after stunning Spain 2-1.

Spanish captain David Alegre made no mistake with a flick into the right side of the net when he found ample time and opportunity on penalty corner variation in the 23rd minute.

Argentines responded in the 54th minute when Lucas Rossi equalised on the end of the movement with a strong slap shot after one-touch passes broke Spanish defence on the left.

With both sides deadlocked at 1-1 after stipulation time, the game was extended into extra time. Ibarra latched onto a loose ball on the top of the circle before coolly pushing through the pads of Spanish goalkeeper Andreu Mollet.

Pakistan 1 The Netherlands 4