MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany), Sep 11: Argentina shocked former champions Pakistan with a close 1-0 victory at the World Cup hockey thanks to a second half penalty stroke by Matias Damian Vila on Monday.

The loss means Pakistan can't reach the semi-finals without stumbles by other teams as Vila gave narrow win to Argentines with a 41st-minute penalty stroke conversion.

Argentina, which had just one point, kept all its players back on defence and survived two attempts by Sohail Abbas off the crossbar.

Earlier, three different players scored to lift Spain past New Zealand 3-1.

South Korea, the Group B leader, also closed in on a semi-final berth when Jang Jong-hyun sent a shot under the crossbar off a penalty corner with two minutes left in a 2-1 win over India.

Spain, which needed to win to reach the semi-finals, got a ninth-minute goal from David Alegre on its first attack. Ten minutes later, Santiago Freixa made it 2-0 off a penalty corner.

The win in sweltering heat lifted the European champions to the top of Group A with eight points. New Zealand at seven now needs to beat Olympic champion Australia on Tuesday to reach its first World Cup semi-finals.

New Zealand coach Kevin Towns was confident his side could beat trans-Tasman rivals Australia on Tuesday to be sure of a place in the semi-finals on Friday.

After a barrage of chances by Spain, Eduard Tubau made it 3-0 with a slap shot with 30 seconds gone in the second half.

New Zealand drag flicker Hayden Shaw was most dangerous against Spain, finally finishing a 40th-minute penalty corner with a shot under the roof of the net.

But New Zealand wasted half-a-dozen chances after the break, losing for the first time at the tournament.

A penalty corner conversion 80 seconds from the final hooter was enough for South Korea to scrape a 2-1 win over India.

South Korea, with 10 points, needs a draw against Germany in its final match to seal its berth in the semi-finals. A draw between the two teams would eliminate tournament favourites the Netherlands.

India have only one point, from its draw with South Africa, and if India lose their last pool match to Netherlands, can come out of this tournament no higher than ninth place.

India had one penalty corner chance in the scoreless first half and South Korea two.

Shivendra Singh scored India's goal 10 minutes after the break, with the slightest touch on a long drive by Raghunath Vakkaliga from the backfield which required the video umpire to confirm the touch was made in the circle.

South Korea had seven more penalty corners in the second half and Jong Hyun Jang scored from the last two with powerful flicks into the top of the net as India wilted under South Korea's pressure in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Earlier on Sunday, South Korea failed to overcome South Africa's gritty defence, drawing 2-2.

South Korea were expected to beat South Africa after South Korea beat the Netherlands 3-2 and England 1-0 while South Africa lost 2-0 to the Netherlands and drew 1-1 with India.

Jong Hyun Jang scored from South Korea's second penalty corner, flicking high to the right of the net.

South Africa equalised when Lungile Tsolekile scored a deflection goal off a free hit outside the circle by Lloyd Norris-Jones which was confirmed by the video umpire and South Korea's Hyo Sik You scored an individual break away goal two minutes later.Wayne Madsen put South Africa back in the game at 2-2 with a diving push into goal and South Africa defended desperately for the last 11 minutes.

Australia jumped up into second in their group courtesy of a 3-1 win over Japan.

Australia dominated Japan with 15 shots on goal and six penalty corner chances yet only scored three times, including one penalty corner, courtesy of Michael McCann, Troy Elder and Russell Ford.

Toshiake Fukuda scored a soft goal for Japan.

Tuesday’s fixtures (all times PST): New Zealand v Australia at 5.00pm; Japan v Argentina at 7.00pm; Germany v South Africa at 9.00pm; India v Netherlands at 11.15pm.

—Agencies