Hockey: Netherlands punish Pakistan

The Netherlands took the opportunity of Germany having a rest day to take the lead in the table on the third day of the Men's Champions' Trophy here yesterday with a 3-1 win against Pakistan. The game was decided by two penalty corner goals from Taeke Taekema inside a minute at the end of the first half.

Any hopes Pakistan had of saving the game evaporated when the Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels saved Muhammad Sarwar's second-half penalty stroke. Australia also lost, 3-2 to India in their third match, a game their coach Barry Dancer felt they "should have won 5-1". Australia started aggressively, but it was India who took the lead when Jugraj Singh scored from a penalty stroke. Moments later, Dhanraj Pillay, the veteran centre forward, set up Prabhjot Singh for India's second. Scott Webster responded for Australia with an individual goal.

In the second half Australia poured forward but India scored on the break from a Gagan Ajit Singh penalty corner. With seven minutes left Dean Butler closed the gap. But Australia continued to squander penalty corners, 16 in all, as India hung on for a memorial win.