MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany), Sept 10: Pakistan drew 2-2 with Spain at the World Cup hockey on Sunday. The win means both Pakistan and Spain have five points in second place in Pool `A’, while New Zealand lead with seven points.

Spain dominated the first half, entering Pakistan's defensive circle 15 times but failed to capitalise on the scoring chances, earning only one penalty corner which was saved on the glove by Salman Akbar.

Pakistan had three circle penetrations and three shots on goal, scoring through Rehan Butt after passes by Adnan Maqsood and Shakeel Abbasi.

Santiago Freixa latched on to a loose ball at the top of the circle driving a back stick shot inside the left post to equalise.

Spain dominated the start of the second half, earning two penalty corners, then a penalty stroke when Ghanzafar Ali stopped the ball on the line with his foot.

Pol Amat put his flick high inside the left post with Salman Akbar moving the opposite way. The penalty goal by Amat saw both teams arguing with the umpire and forcing play to be stopped for four minutes.

The goal provoked arguments on two counts: whether the Pakistani defender on the post was hit on the body and whether he was inside line at the time.

''If the umpiring is like this, then we will have to take six points from our (next) two games,'' Pakistan coach Ali Nasir said. ''But we got the point and we are still alive.”

Pakistan came back with a blistering 119 kph penalty corner conversion by Sohail Abbas inside the left post.

Spain's David Alegre put Spain under pressure ten minutes from full time, drawing a six-minute yellow card suspension for back-chatting the umpire but Pakistan could not capitalise on the extra man by scoring again.

“It was hard to contain Spain in the first half but we played more of our own game in the second half,” said Shahnaz Sheikh, Pakistan's coach. “We will go all out in the next two games against Argentina and Australia to get the six points we need to make the semi-finals,” Sheikh said.

“If anyone is responsible for losing it is us and I have to congratulate Pakistan for giving us a very good and difficult game today,” said Maurits Hendriks, Spain's coach.

Later, Germany moved to the top of Pool B after a 2-1 victory over England. The win catapults Germany to the head of their group with 7 points, one ahead of South Korea.

Germany struggled to dominate England in the first half until they earned their first penalty corner and Christopher Zeller converted with a flick inside the left post.

England came back at the end of the first half earning a penalty corner then a penalty stroke, which Simon Mantell drove low and to into the left of goal.

Germany were also awarded a penalty stroke early in the second half and Christopher Zeller converted.

Germany had four penalty corner chances in the second half without success.

“Germany were better than us but with a little bit of luck we might have gotten something out of the match,” said Jason Lee, England's coach.

“England played well and have improved a lot since the last European Cup,” said Bernhard Peters, Germany's coach. “England have three or four fast players and some new young players who are playing well,” Peters added.

Earlier on Saturday, New Zealand beat Japan 1-0 to move to seven points and head pool `A’ and are only one win away from a semi-finals berth.

“Our guys were feeling the effort today playing again after the match against Pakistan yesterday. They struggled mentally and it was not a pretty sight,” said Kevin Towns, New Zealand's coach.

Simon Child scored New Zealand's goal eight minutes after the break although Japan had controlled the match in the first half. Japan had eight shots on goal to New Zealand's three in the match.

Australia earned their first three points of the championship, trouncing Argentina 4-0 with goals to Luke Doerner, Michael McCann, Robbie Hammond and a debut international goal to Russell Ford.

Monday’s fixtures (all times in PST):

Spain v New Zealand at 5.00pm; India v South Korea at 7.00pm; Argentina v Pakistan at 9.00pm; Netherlands v England at 11.15pm.—Agencies