BEIJING, Aug 17: Pakistan were eliminated from the race for the semi-finals despite a 3-1 win against South Africa as Australia and the Netherlands played a 2-2 draw at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.

The win took Pakistan’s points tally to six in pool ‘B’ but could not give them a place in the semi-finals as Australia and the Netherlands took their tally to 10 points each with the draw.

The Green shirts are due to meet the Netherlands in their last league game on Tuesday.

Besides ruining field-goal chances, Pakistan continued their struggle with penalty-corner conversion.

Pakistan forced their first short corner in the fifth minute but South African goalkeeper Christopher Hibbert made a splendid save off a powerful strike from Rehan Butt.

After struggling for a while, Mohammad Javed, playing his 15th match for Pakistan, scored his first international goal when he smartly deflected a free hit from half-back Mohammad Saqlain from the top of the circle into the right corner of the goal.

Clyde Abraham came close to level for South Africa after connecting a cross from Eric Rose-Innes but his hit was blocked by goalkeeper Nasir Ahmed.

Pakistan earned their second penalty-corner in the 26th minute but could not utilise it.

Things proved different when Austin Smith levelled the terms for South Africa four minutes from the break with a brilliant drag-flick on their first corner which went past the outstretched hand of Nasir.

Pakistan inducted youngsters Mohammad Asif, Shafqat Rasool and Mohammad Zubair in a bid to take control of the match.

Soon after resumption, Pakistan collected their third and fourth penalty-corners but could not take the lead.

Pakistan got a sigh of relief when Shakeel Abbasi took the score to 2-1 with a superb scoop into the net after an intelligent pass from Zubair from the left flank in the 44th minute.

South Africa on a counter-attack missed a golden opportunity when Emile Smith’s hit strayed outside the goalpost.

The game was halted for a few minutes after Waqas Akbar received a cut over the right eyebrow and was taken off by physio Faiz-ur-Rehman.

The South Africans continued their bid for an equaliser but Austin Smith’s indirect attempt went to the right side of the goalpost.

Pakistan were finally rewarded for their hard work when Mohammad Saqlain converted a penalty-stroke.

Malaysian umpire Amarjit Singh awarded the penalty-stroke indicating that a South African defender used his body to stop a goal on a valiant attempt from Rehan despite strong protest from the Proteas.

Shakeel Abbasi and Bruce Jacobs were sent off with yellow cards soon afterwards.

Pakistan must thank their goalkeeper Nasir Ahmed whose heroics helped his side to emerge winners with some spectacular saves.

Meanwhile, Taeke Taekema slammed a last-second penalty corner as the Netherlands held reigning champions Australia to a crucial 2-2 draw in another match.

In a match-up between the Athens Games finalists, the Kookaburras led 2-1 till the last 25 seconds through goals by Eddie Ockenden and Luke Doerner, before Taekema’s second goal tied the game.

The draw virtually assured both teams a place in the semi-finals from Pool ‘B’, with nearest challengers Britain three points adrift ahead of the last round of league matches on Tuesday.

World Cup champions Germany resurrected their semi-final hopes with a 1-0 win over Pool ‘A’ leaders Spain, Moritz Fuerste scoring the winner a minute before half-time.

In a race wide open, Germany trail by just one point behind Spain’s tally of nine, while New Zealand and South Korea are in third place with seven points each.

The Germans must defeat the Kiwis on Tuesday to advance to the semi-finals, while Spain also need a win against the Koreans.

New Zealand were denied a valuable point when they were locked in a 2-2 draw with hosts China.

The Kiwis, who were expected to roll over the winless Chinese, found themselves two goals down by the 17th minute before Simon Child and Shea McAleese restored parity.

A win over Germany on Tuesday could see New Zealand through to the semi-finals.

The Koreans, the current Asian Games champions, came from behind to defeat Belgium 3-1 earlier on Sunday for their second win in the competition.

The Koreans withstood a first half goal from Jerome Dekeyser as You Hyo-Sik pumped in two goals and Jang Jong-Hyun struck one penalty corner in the second session.

Great Britain forced a 1-1 draw on Canada as Matt Daly equalised Ken Pereira’s 47th-minute opener three minutes before the final whistle.

Sunday’s results:

South Korea 3 (You Hyo-Sik 46, 51, Jang Jong-Hyun 50) Belgium 1 (Jerome Dekeyser 20); China 2 (Song Yi 3, 17) New Zealand 2 (Simon Child 34, Shea McAleese 54)

Germany 1 (Moritz Fuerste 34)Spain 0

Britain 1 (Matt Daly 67); Canada 1 (Ken Pereira 47)

Pakistan 3 (Mohammad Javed 9, Shakeel Abbasi 44, Mohammad Saqlain 60pen); South Africa 1 (Austin Smith 31)

Australia 2 (Eddie Ockenden 58, Luke Doerner 61); The Netherlands 2 (Taeke Taekema 55, 70).—Agencies