KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8: Pakistan’s faint hopes of qualifying for the next year’s Champions Trohpy were shattered here on Saturday after a 4-1 thrashing by the Netherlands, thanks to a superb hat-trick from lethal drag-flicker Taeke Taekema.

Pakistan, who desperately needed a win to stay in the race for next year’s Champions Trophy, were outplayed by the Dutch as Taekema’s outstanding show destroyed the opposition with a brace of goals in the second half including a penalty stroke conversion.

Teun de Nooijer scored the fourth goal which sealed Pakistan’s fate. Waqas Sharif notched-up the consolation goal for Pakistan.

Salman Akbar’s team struggled against the fast moving Dutch players and the penalty corner strikes were the main difference between the two teams.

Netherlands, with their attacking display, mustered as many as six penalty corners off which they converted two. Pakistan secured the only short corner in the second minute but Muhammad Imran’s lazy push went wide off the target.

Netherlands went in the lead in only the 15th minute of the game when de Nooijer reverse swept past Pakistan goalie Salman Akbar who failed to judge the direction of the hit.

Pakistan, however, hit back within four minutes when Waqas Sharif pushed the ball past Dutch goalie Guus Vogels in the 19th minute after an intelligent pass from Abbas Hyder at the goal-mouth.

After wasting two penalty corners in the last five minute before the break, Taekema found the net seconds before the interval when he slammed a powerful hit that beat Salman and Ghazanfar. That gave a 2-1 led to the Dutch team.

Pakistan chances of staging a comeback further dampened when Taekama pumped in his third goal two minutes into the second half as he scooped one over the head of Pakistan custodian.

Taekema then complete his hat-trick by converting a penalty stroke awarded to the Dutch team just five minutes from the hooter. Spanish umpire Xavier Adell awarded the stroke despite protests from Pakistan team. Pakistan will now face Malaysia for classification match for seventh and eighth spot on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Spain recorded the biggest win of the tournament here Saturday by downing hosts Malaysia 7-2 in their last group match.

While Spain went on a goal-scoring spree, Asia’s number one South Korea dented their chances of reaching the final after managing only a 2-2 draw with Britain.

It was the second consecutive time that the Asian powerhouses have drawn at this tournament after squandering a two-goal lead against Pakistan to draw 3-3.

At the time of filing this report South Korea was waiting for the outcome of the clash between world number ones Australia and world champions Germany later on Saturday before learning if they have reached the final.

But all eyes were on Spain and the world number fours did not disappoint, leading 4-0 at half time thanks to some amazing attacking and midfield play.

David Alegre started the rout with a thunderous shot inside the circle in the 20th minute. Victor Sojo followed suite three minutes later while a double strike from veteran Eduard Tubau (25th and 26th) quickly put the score at 4-0.

Malaysia came out firing in the second half when Chua Boon Huat slammed in from close range in the 39th and Selvaraju Sandrakasi in the 42nd.

But that was all the home side could muster as Spain regained control, adding three more when Alegre bagged his brace in the 45th before Xavier Ribas (47) and Eduard Arbos (62) also scored to complete one of the most one-sided matches seen at this tournament.

Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks was elated, and for the first time was seen smiling broadly. “Apart from the two goals that they scored, we controlled the game throughout and our passing was excellent,” he said.

Meanwhile Britain stunned the South Korean defence when Matt Daly scored a thunderous first timer in the opening six minutes.

The Koreans found the British defence tough to crack and had to wait until the 45th minute before Seo Jong-ho connected from close range.

Richard Mantell scored in the 60th through a penalty corner to go one ahead but Korea immediately answered with a goal in the 62nd through Lee Nam-yong.—Agencies