Pakistan win semis spot

Holland's Eikelboom rues a missed chance

Pakistan produced an enthralling win over reigning Olympic champions Netherlands to storm into the semi finals at the Sydney Games.

Pakistan, which needed a victory to go through, scored twice to defeat the Dutch team, who are also the current World and Champions Trophy title holders.

I just told the boys to go out there and play their best

  Pakistan Manager Sidiqqui

But the Dutch team can still defend their Olympic gold as a shock result in the other pool match went in their favour.

Germany crashed out of contention after a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Britain.

Pakistan's joy

The Pakistanis scored once in each half in a sparkling display of Asian style hockey.

The tournament's leading scorer, Sohail Abbas, gave them the lead in the 22nd minute with a blistering flick off a penalty corner.

It was Abbas' seventh goal of the tournament.

Pakistan's Yousaf celebrates his team's progression

Kashif Javed added a second goal three minutes before the final whistle, when he scored against the run of play.

The overjoyed Pakistanis sank to their knees and kissed the turf after their sensational win.

"Frankly, I was not so optimistic before the game because we had to beat the world champions," team manager Islahuddin Siddiqui said.

"I just told the boys to go out there and play their best. They responded so well that I don't have words to describe their achievement," he said.

India out

The Pakistan team will face South Korea in the semifinals, after India failed to beat Poland in their last qualifying match.

We paid for not taking the chances that came our way

  Indian coach Bhaskaran

India, who have won eight Olympic golds, were held to a draw by the gutsy Poles, enabling the South Koreans to go through.

In a match played in heavy rain, Poland's Tomascz Cichy pulled his team level two minutes from the end with a brilliant goal from the top of the circle.

Earlier, India had taken the lead in the 53rd minute with a penalty corner strike by Dilip Tirkey.

The result left both India and South Korea level on points and goal difference.

But the Koreans moved into the semis because of their 2-0 defeat of India in a league match.

"We paid for not taking the chances that came our way," Indian coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran said.

"The rain did not help matters either."