BEIJING, Aug 13: After conceding a goal in the first half, Pakistan launched a late comeback in the second to beat Canada 3-1 at the Olympic hockey tournament on Wednesday.

Pakistan fought back after going down 0-1 seconds before the breather to outclass Canada, the Pan American Champions, with three goals in span of 19 minutes at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.

Former three-time Olympic champions Pakistan, who suffered a 2-4 loss in their group ‘B’ opener against Great Britain on Monday, showed some spark and firepower in the latter stage of the match to overwhelm Canada.

Full-back Mohammad Imran and forwards Shafqat Rasool and Waqas Sharif scored one goal apiece while Bindi Kullar netted the lone goal for Canada.

Pakistan almost dominated the match in the first session but lack of finishing denied them goals.

The forward-line comprising Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Shafqat Rasool and Mohammad Zubair wasted about half a dozen opportunities otherwise Pakistan would have been on top.

Pakistan earned their first penalty corner in the second minute but Imran’s push was blocked by Canadian goalkeeper Michael Mahmood.

From the left flank, Shafqat, Pakistan’s junior team captain, combined well to make inroads several times but stereotype striking at the goal coupled with individual play and alertness by Mahmood prevented their goal scoring.

After remaining defensive in most of the first session, Canada earned a short corner in the dying moments of the first half, and converted it to take the lead. With all 10 Canadians at the top of the circle, Bindi Kullar scored the goal after deceptive indirect PC drill as the ball slipped from underneath Nasir Ahmed.

Experienced goalkeeper Salman Akbar was rested for this match.

After being put under pressure to score, Pakistan were rewarded twice for their efforts, as two goals were scored in quick succession. Imran scored a lethal drag-flick which hit the roof of the cage on the second penalty corner in the 39th minute.

Few seconds later, Shafqat’s drive from the top left side of the circle sounded the right corner of the goal.

Rehan Butt made two solids attempts at the goal. First, it went wide while it was blocked the second time by the goal-keeper.

Pakistan kept Canada under pressure as Waqas Sharif blasted a superb goal with a powerful reverse sweep in the 57th minute to the delight of his team-mates.

Canada got their second penalty corner in the 61st minute but failed to convert it.

Mohammad Zubair, Waqas and Rehan made a couple of valiant strikes but the ball sailed over the bars on both occasions.

After Thursday’s rest day, Pakistan face the toughest test in their third pool match Australia, the defending Olympic champions.

Before the start of the match on Wednesday, Pakistan faced a setback as Abbas Haider was suspended for one match following an official inquiry into an incident involving England’s Ashley Jackson during Pakistan’s opener.

According an official communication from the tournament’s technical director Ken Read of Australia Abbas was guilty of breaching the code of conduct and was not allowed to play against Canada.

According to the release, the video recording of the incident showed Abbas striking Jackson on the head in the 26th minute of the match.

“Neither the umpire saw it. The video evidence showed that Abbas was in no position to play the ball; at that time his hand on the stick contacted Jackson’s head. There was no injury to Jackson,” the release added.

During the hearing, Abbas claimed he had slipped while attempting to play the ball and his hand had struck Jackson by mistake.

In other matches World Cup holders Germany hobbled to a 1-1 draw against nemesis Belgium as defending champions Australia pulverised South Africa 10-0.

The Germans, whose loss against Belgium in the European championships last year forced them to play the Olympic qualifiers, were once again caught napping as Cedric Charlier equalised Matthias Witthaus's opener.

Germany, who have four points from two matches, must now win their three remaining games against Spain, South Korea and New Zealand to ensure a place in the semi-finals from Pool ‘A’.

Spain lead the pool with six full points after beating the daughty Kiwis 1-0 through a last-minute goal by Santi Freixa.

Australia's thrashing of South Africa equalled their previous best victory margin against Mexico in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Eli Matheson slammed a hat-trick and Jamie Dwyer and David Guest scored two goals each as the Kookaburras, who routed Canada 6-1 in their first match, recorded their second successive win in Pool ‘B’.

Former champions the Netherlands joined Australia at the top of the pool with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Britain, Taeke Taekema scoring the winner seven minutes before the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Asian Games champions South Korea were given a scare by Olympic debutants China before romping to a 5-2 win with Jang Jong-Hyun scoring three penalty corner goals.

China snatched a 2-0 lead by the eighth minute before the Koreans hit back to follow up their 3-1 win over the same rivals in the Asian Games final in Qatar two years ago.

Results:

Pool ‘A’: South Korea 5 (Seo Jong-Ho 13, Jang Jong-Hyun 35, 55, 57, Kang Seong-Jung 67) China 2 (Na Yubo 6, Song Yi 8). Germany 1 (Matthias Witthaus 19) Belgium 1 (Cedric Charlier 22).

Spain 1 (Santi Freixa 70) New Zealand 0

Pool ‘B’:

Australia 10 (Jamie Dwyer 2, 42, Eli Matheson 14, 29, 57, Grant Schubert 27, David Guest 35, 38, Fergus Kavanagh 47, Des Abbott 67) South Africa 0. Pakistan 3 (Mohammad Imran 39, Shafqat Rasool 40, Mohammad Waqas 57) Canada 1 (Bindi Kullar 35).

The Netherlands 1 (Taeke Taekema 63) Britain 0.—Agencies