KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25: Sohail Abbas underlined his status as the world’s top penalty corner striker, firing in two in Pakistan’s scrappy 3-2 victory against a determined Belgium in the 10th World Cup Hockey Monday at the National Stadium.

Sohail took his tally of goals to 156 bringing Pakistan back into the game twice while Khalid Saleem put in the match-winner to keep his side’s World Cup run well on track.

Belgium were no easy opponents and took the lead five minutes into the game, a short corner strike from Vitali Kholopov. But thanks to the genius of Sohail, the four-time champions did not have to wait long for the equalizer that came in the 9th minute from their first short corner of the match, there were three in all.

But Belgium playing and marking well, broke clear again at the start of the second half Maxime Luycx picking up the ball on the left, making his way into the semi-circle and setting up Xavier Brooke, who coolly chipped the ball into the net.

Pakistan, who had a “poor” first half, were particularly impressive in the second session, and made several attacks that saw the ageing Shahbaz Ahmed sending in several defence-splitting passes. And their attacking play led to a short corner, and it was the reliable Sohail again who did it for his side.

With the pace of the game picking up, Khalid Saleem tapped the ball home in front of the goalmouth to seal victory for Pakistan, their second of the tournament.

There was a marked improvement in Shahbaz’s speed Monday as he made dangerous runs that unsettled the Belgians at times. Their South African coach Giles Bonnett admitted that Shahbaz was the kind of player who could trouble any side. “He single-handedly can make a big difference.”

While Shahbaz put up a good show, so did goalkeeper Muhammad Qasim who made several spectacular saves, two of them off a short corner, Belgium’s third of the match.

Belgium’ss best opportunity to equalize came towards the end, when Maxime Luycx, who was well placed to score, struck high over the bar, much to the relief of the Pakistan camp.

Pakistan manager Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, conceded that his team had a poor first half. “They did not play as I had expected as there was no coordination between them in the first session.”

However he pointed out that it was good to see the team showing capability of bouncing back into the game. “Earlier, the players used to panic after going a goal or two behind but now that does not happen,” he said.

“We thought the Belgians would play a fast game but they were a bit slow, especially in the opening half. Overall, we got the points and that is what matters.”

Chasing their fifth World Cup, Pakistan now have six points and now play New Zealand Wednesday, a side that coach Khawaja Junaid said were good in defence. “We are not treating any team as pushovers and we will plan our strategy against them.”

For Belgium, it was their second straight defeat in the tournament after losing to Spain on the opening day of the competition.

European champions Germany, aiming to win their first World Cup scored a straightforward 3-0 victory against South Africa in Pool A in the second match of the day.

Installed the favourites here, the Germans were not as impressive as they were against Argentina Sunday, and got all their goals in field play. The exciting Oliver Domke, player of the 1998 World Cup in Utretch, put them in front when the game was 16-minutes old and then Sascha Reinelt enhanced the lead on the 21st.

Argentina got quite a few good chances to score but were unable to make use of them and it was not long before Germany completed their day’s work, with a 65th minute goal, again from Domke, a veteran of 157 internationals.

Germany with six points from two games will now play Spain Wednesday.

Spain, runners-up of 1998 Utretch World Cup swept to their second win a row, with a 3-1 defeat of New Zealand in a match played on Pitch No 2, adjacent to the main National Stadium.

But it were the Kiwis who opened the scoring first, a 10th minute strike from Umesh Parag and they held on to the slender lead for quite a good while. It was only on the stroke of half time that Spain got on to level terms, Xavier Ribas, with 82 internationals under his belt hitting the bull’s eye off a short corner.

It was left to Ribas again to score Spain’s second goal on the 53rd minute, that also came from a penalty corner and then Juan Escarre wrapped it all up three minutes from time.

Netherlands were heading for a 1-1 draw in their Pool A match against Argentina but Teun de Nooijer, with over a minute left, sent in a close range sizzler off an indirect short corner to save the day for the defending champions.

Argentina, beaten 2-5 by Germany on the first day did well in keeping the Dutch, who are also the Olympic champions, at bay. The South Americans surprised their superior rivals by seizing the lead through Jorge Lombi only for Ronald Brouwer to restore parity.

With the sides level at half-time, it took a gallant last gasp effort from the Dutch, three-time winners of the World Cup, to make sure their title chase remained on course. Netherlands’s opening day’s victims were New Zealand whom they beat 4-0.