HOBART (Australia), Oct 17: Defending champions Australia were knocked out of the junior men’s hockey World Cup Wednesday when they crashed 2-1 to Argentina in a top-eight pool game.

India then defeated the Netherlands 4-3 to qualify with Argentina for the semi-finals.

Germany, yet to lose a match, qualified for the semi-finals on Tuesday with a 7-3 demolition of Korea. England secured their place despite losing to Germany Wednesday, courtesy of Korea beating Spain 5-3.

Juan Garetta scored the winner for Argentina 18 seconds from full-time, to put his country into the semi-finals of a men’s hockey championship for the first time at any level.

Australia were forced into play-offs for minor placings.

Juan Gilardi opened the scoring for Argentina with a smartly-taken penalty corner strike which took them into half-time with a one goal advantage.

The second half was dominated by Australia who had eight goal shots to Argentina’s three and 29 circle penetrations to Argentina’s 15.

Lachlan Vivian-Taylor’s first goal of the tournament with a reverse stick scoop into the net from a penalty corner brought Australia level but Garetta broke their hearts when he swooped for the winner.

India led 2-0 against the Netherlands after 10 minutes from a brilliant field goal to captain Gagan Ajit Singh and a penalty corner high into the left of the goal by Jugraj Singh.

Roderick Weusthof powered in a penalty corner flick while Tirkey was suspended to get back to 2-1, and the Netherlands then drew level 2-2 at the 22 minute mark when Mathijs van Weerd scored a field goal.

Prabhjot Singh regained the lead for India 3-2 after 13 minutes of the second half, before Rob Reckers levelled again for the Netherlands when popped in a goal off the pads of Devesh Chauhan after he blocked a penalty corner drive.

India threw everyone forward as a draw would eliminate them from the semi-finals in favour of Netherlands.

Five minutes of end-to-end hockey earned India its fourth penalty corner which Kanwal Preet Singh converted to put India ahead 4-3 with 13 minutes to play.

Collated results: