KARACHI, April 23: Pakistan easily advanced to Junior Asia Cup hockey semi-finals after a 7-1 victory over Japan despite failure of their penalty corner strikers on Friday. While home side had smooth sailing against Japanese, Malaysians overcame a first half fright to reach last four with a 5-2 triumph against plucky China at Hockey Club of Pakistan.

Pakistan meet defending champions South Korea in a crucial and last pool 'A' game on Sunday to decide the leaders. Malaysia face world champions India on Sunday to determine the pool 'B' leaders who are almost certain to qualify for the semifinals after playing Bangladesh on Saturday.

Although Pakistan won with a huge margin, coach Asif Bajwa was not happy with the result, saying the game should have ended with his side scoring 10 or more goals. "Our forwards did not play up to mark. We should have won the match with a bigger margin, 10 plus goals. Apart from that the Japanese goalkeeper also saved few goals," Asif told a post-match press conference.

Asked what he expects in the semi-finals from Imran Warsi and Mohammad Imran - the penalty corner specialists who failed to deliver against Japan or even Chinese Taipei, coach said he had a secret plan to tackle the last four opponent.

"We have a plan which we will reveal at the semi-finals. I hope Imran Warsi and Mohammad Imran will be able to deliver be it India or Malaysia," he said. Pakistan forced six short corners and converted two - one through Imran Warsi and the other via Tariq Aziz after an indirect drill.

Mercurial forward Akhtar Ali gave Pakistan a perfect start with a 4th-minute goal before he cleverly set up Mahmood Ali for home side's second goal in the 11th minute. Kashif Yaqoob was denied by Japan goalkeeper Yasunori Yamasaki after a Adnan Zakir pass in the 13th minute, while Mohammad Imran try went wide off the target three minutes later.

The green shirts wasted another sitter when a Tariq hit cannoned off the bar in the 20th minute. Adnan dribbled past two defenders in the circle to fire home the second five minutes before halftime. Surprisingly, the Bangladeshi umpire Latifur Rehman first disallowed the goal but reversed his decision after consulting his Malaysian colleague Sagayanathan Ambrose.

Imran Warsi scored his solitary goal to make it 4-0 with a short corner conversion a minute before breather. Tariq moved the scoreboard with an indirect drill two minutes into second session, while Japan got some consolation a minute later with a Takashi Ito goal.

Tetsuya Sugai could have doubled the lead in the 42nd minute but instead rattled the bar and Ito's long punt upfield saw the Japanese missing the target wide. Yasir Islam came off the bench to score the sixth followed by hard work by Mahmood in the 55th minute.

Japan again came near scoring in the 56th minute, Katsuyoshi Nagasawa shaking the bar, while Ikhlaq Ahmad defended well during a penalty corner strike by Japan. Yamasaki produced another save on an indirect Imran Khan strike in the 67th minute. Adnan excellent dribbling skills near goal mouth saw Mahmood getting his double to score the seventh a minute before final whistle.

Although Malaysians got off to a confident start with a Jivan Mohan goal in the 16th minute, China shocked 2000 bronze medallists with a Ao Changrong equaliser in the 21st minute.

Chinese showed resilience going ahead with a substitute Guo Zhongqiang strike in the 34th minute. Malaysia put the game on an even keel moments before lemons through Mohan.

Malaysians recovered in the second half to extend the lead, Abdul Jalil netting a minute after resumption. Mohamad Nasir was on target in the 41st minute to make it 4-2. China's Yang Zhijia received temporary suspension orders in the 62nd minute.

Azli Misron got rid of defender Wang Zhen in the circle to wrap-up the game with fifth in the 69th minute. Malaysian coach Sarjit Singh said hot weather had started to take its toll but did not reveal the plan to tackle the rivals in the semifinals.

"It is now becoming hotter which is affecting us. We will make a plan for the semifinal after considering our rivals." A Yai-Wen Shih 61st-minute strike gave Chinese Taipei a 1-0 win over Singapore.

Zahidul Islam struck twice in Bangladesh's 3-1 win over Sri Lanka. Zahid's fourth-minute goal was followed by a H.S. Hettiarachchi equaliser in the 29th minute. Zahid got his second in the 37th minute, while Ashraful Islam completed the scoring in the 51st minute.

Saturday's fixtures: