Netherlands

Favorites Spain and the Netherlands recorded their third successive victories and went to the top of the points table with nine points each on the third day of the men's field hockey Champions Trophy Tuesday.

Spain managed a tough 3-1 win over New Zealand while Holland _ looking for its third Champions Trophy in a row _ defied Pakistan's premium penalty corner striker Sohail Abbas for a thumping 4-1 triumph.

India got its first three points when it came back from one goal deficit at half-time and defeated Germany 3-1 in the day's last match.

In the first game, Spain's man-of-the-match Pau Quemada struck twice off second-half short corners while Santiago Freixa dabbed the ball over goalkeeper Paul Woolford for a 63rd minute splendid field goal from the left flank.

New Zealand had most of the opportunities in the first half, but Mitesh Patel, David Kosoof and Bevan Hari failed to exploit them in a goalless 35-minute play.

After Quemada converted Spain's third short corner in the 41st minute, Darren Smith equalized six minutes later with an indirect attempt off New Zealand's second penalty corner when he neatly deflected captain Simon Towns' low shot into the goal.

But Spain regained momentum and Quemada once again beat Woolford with a hard push on the left side off a 54th minute short corner. Freixa later ensured Spain stays unbeaten in the tournament with a classic field goal.

Spain now has two tough matches but just needs a draw _ either against Pakistan or the Netherlands _ to book a place in the final.

"It was a toughest match for us and it was difficult to play under a big sun but we are happy with nine points and are ready for two big matches against Holland and Pakistan," Spanish coach Maurits Hendricks said.

Spain suffered a big blow when its forward Eduard Arbos was ruled out of the tournament after dislocating his shoulder in the first half. He was carried off the field after he fell down while running on the right flank.

"It's a big loss because he is one of our main forwards," Hendricks said.

Abbas equaled Australian Mark Hager's record of 32 goals in Champions Trophy when he hit the back of the net off an 18th minute short corner. It equalized Dutchman Ronald Brouwer's clever field goal in the 15th minute as both teams went to the breather at 1-1.

Pakistan's forwards hardly penetrated the Dutch defense and goalkeeper Guus Vogels twice smartly warded off Sohail's attempts off short corners.

Taeke Taekema, who narrowly missed scoring chances on two short corners, capitalized on the third one with a blazing push in the 40th minute into the top right corner.

Pakistan had its golden chance to equalize in the 56th minute when Shakeel Abbasi beat Vogels but then hit a wide shot with an open goal at his mercy.

Five minutes from full time, Karel Klaver doubled the lead for Holland after Jan Geert Derikx went past four Pakistan defenders and gave Klaver a timely pass in front of the goal.

Holland captain Jeroen Delmee celebrated his 300th international appearance when he converted a 69th minute short corner.

"The scoreline is a bit flattering, but we were lucky that they (Pakistan) missed some chances," said Delmee.

"Two goals in the last five minutes gave us the decisive lead and turned the match in our favor," he added.

Germany, which were beaten by Pakistan and Spain in its previous games, went ahead with Jan-Marco Montag's 21st minute penalty corner goal.

India _ beaten by Netherlands and Spain _ hit back through Sandeep Michael's 41st minute strike off a fine pass from V. S. Vinay. Arjun Halappa's powerful strike from the right side beat goalkeeper Ulrich Bubolz in the 58th minute and Vivek Gupta stretched the Indian lead with a neat deflection into the goal three minutes from time.

On Wednesday, Netherlands meets Spain while Germany takes on New Zealand and Pakistan plays archrival India.

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