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Athens 2004

India came from behind to record a remarkable 4-2 win against South Africa and keep their Olympic medal hopes alive in the men's hockey comeptition here today.

Trailing 0-2 at one stage, the eight-time gold medallists showed their class to emerge victorious in the thrilling contest, which they needed to win to remain on track for a semifinal berth from Pool B.

India, who had lost their opening encounter to the Netherlands, were greatly served by their three most senior players -- Dhanraj Pillay, Baljit Singh Dhillon and Dilip Tirkey, all of whom scored a goal apiece before Gagan Ajit Singh's last minute goal brought the emphatic win for the side.

Greg Nicol and Craig Fulton scored for the South Africans, who had won their first match against Argentina on Sunday.

Quite like the match against Holland, India suffered an early reverse when Nicol scored from South Africa's first penalty corner in the 7th minute.

India's misery was compounded further when Fulton's field goal five minutes later forced them to rethink their strategies.

The Asian side, which hardly tested the opposition goalkeeper for the major part of the first half, regrouped themselves after the twin blows and made some incisive moves which resulted in the side getting a penalty corner in the 27th minute.

Tirkey's firm hit from the set piece was saved by a diving South African goalkeeper David Staniforth but a lurking Dhanraj Pillay rushed ahead and tapped the ball in much to the delight of the Indian supporters present in the stands.

South Africa defended stoutly for the remaining time of the first half and went to the half time 1-2.

The second half saw the Indians dominating from the word go and coming up with several attempts on the rival goal.

The repeated attacks earned the side their second penalty corner which was intelligently put in by Dhillon in the 42nd minute for the equaliser.

Both the sides pressed hard to get the lead and in the process dished out some exciting hockey. But none could give the finishing touches to the several moves made in the next few minutes.

A yellow card to Ryan Ravenscroft in the 59th minute raised India's hopes but South Africa with 10 men fought bravely to thwart the rampaging opposition forwards.

The score remained 2-2 till the very end before captain Dilip Tirkey emerged the hero scoring from a penalty corner a minute before the hooter.

With just seconds to go for the end of the match, Gagan Ajit completed the formalities slamming home from a quick counter attack.

In other matches of the day, South Korea beat Britain 3-1 in Pool A while in Pool B, Argentina held Australia to a 2-2 draw.

Meanwhile, Sohail Abbas proved yet again why he is considered the world's best drag flicker by scoring four goals in Pakistan's 7-0 thrashing of Egypt in a Pool A match.

Three of Abbas's goals came from his deadly drag-flicks from penalty corners while the he scored the fourth off a penalty stroke against the hapless African champions.

Kashif Jawaid scored the first two goals for the side in the third and 12th minte as Pakistan got off to a great start, couple of days after losing their first tie against Germany.

Captain Nadeem Muhammed also joined in the goal feast with a field goal in the 15th minute before Sohail stamped his authority on the match.

The 23-year-old, who is the world's second highest goal scorer, sounded the board twice in each halves.

His goals came in the 30th, 33rd, 38th and 58 minutes to script a huge win for Pakistan.

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