MOENCHENGLADBACH (Germany) Sept 9: Germany rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands in an ill-tempered match at the World Cup hockey on Saturday.

India were eliminated from semi-final contention when Ian Symons scored with six minutes left for South Africa to draw 1-1 – the second time the 1975 champions have gifted a late goal at this tournament.

Christopher Zeller scored in the 48th and Moritz Fuerste six minutes later for Germany to level the match against Netherlands in a clash of two of the title favourites.

A fight erupted in the final minutes and the 12,000 spectators booed the Dutch players afterward. The Netherlands, Olympic silver medallists, can still make the semi-finals. With a 1-1-1 record in Group A, however, it will need Germany or South Korea to miss out.

''We still have a strong feeling we can make the semis. We have to win our last two games, but unfortunately it’s not in our control anymore,'' the Netherlands' Taeke Taekema said.

Matthijs Brouwer scored in the 38th minute for the Dutch team, deflecting in a precise cross from Teun de Nooijer, voted the world's top player last year.

Four minutes later, Rob Reckers took advantage of a mistake by the goalkeeper and the Netherlands looked poised to beat its old rival for the fourth straight time.

But Zeller flicked in Germany's fourth penalty corner and Fuerste slapped a shot into the same corner to level.

A fight erupted when De Nooijer missed the ball on a free hit and his stick nailed Eike Duckworth in the chest. The German team was angry, thinking it was deliberate.

The Netherlands came into the tournament unbeaten in 19 matches and won the Champions Trophy against the top teams just two weeks ago.

Now all three other contenders to reach the semi-finals have a match in hand over the Dutch team with South Korea leading with six points. Germany and the Netherlands have four and England three.

India also conceded a last-minute goal in a 3-2 defeat to Germany.

''That is where we are lacking _ dealing with the pressure of the last 10 minutes during these high-intensity matches,'' India coach Vasudevan Baskaran said.

India controlled play in the first half, taking a 14th-minute lead when South Africa goalkeeper Chris Hibbert's block was slapped in by Ignace Tirkey.

The match produced few second-half chances until Symons' goal from a penalty corner. South Africa pressed for the winner afterward.

''We had three or four good breaks after the penalty corner, but nothing came of them,'' South Africa coach Paul Revington said. ''I'm as shattered as the players are about the draw.''

Revington said he was satisfied with the progress of a team that has several players in their first major tournament.

Both teams are at the bottom of Group B.

Earlier on Friday, Argentina brought Spain back to the pack in Pool A by drawing 1-1 with Spain.

Argentina's defence crowded Spain's attack and Spain's usually reliable penalty corner combinations failed to execute any of the five corners awarded to Spain.

“Our penalty corners were not up to par today,” said Maurits Hendriks, Spain's coach.

“I tried to give Spain's forwards no room to play their game and to have my team defend as a whole team,” said Sergio Vigil, Argentina's coach. In the second half Eduard Tubau scored a rebound off a penalty corner for Spain and Lucas Cammereri scored a field goal for Argentina.

South Korea overcame three yellow cards to beat England 1-0.

Yoon Sung-hoon's free kick deflected through goalkeeper James Fair's legs in the 59th minute for the only goal between South Korea and England, a day after the English edged India 3-2.—Agencies