KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28: Pakistan failed in what was their first real World Cup test Thursday losing 1-2 to Argentina on the fifth day of the tournament.

Despite defending champions Netherlands and Spain doing them a favour by drawing their game 1-1, Pakistan slipped to fourth in the tough Pool A. The defeat left Pakistan with nine points from four games, making their task of qualifying for the semifinals more difficult.

Their remaining games are now against top teams in the group Netherlands, runner-up of the 1998 World Cup Spain and title-favourites Germany who leap-frogged to third place with a 3-0 victory against win-less Belgium.

Argentina’s Matias Paredes dealt the body blow to Pakistan late in the game, sending a shot past goalkeeper Muhammad Qasim to seal a memorable victory over the four-time champions.

Pakistan seized a timely lead, Sohail Abbas shooting in from a short corner for his fifth goal of the tournament. However Argentina then launched a series of attacks forcing a number of penalty corners with marksman Jorge Lombi making several attempts all of which did not produce any goals.

Aregntina stepped up the pressure in the second half and were duly rewarded with a goal from Tomas MacCormik before Paredes pushed in the match-winner. Pakistan made desperate attempts in search of the equalizer earning two late penalty corners but Sohail Abbas could not save his side from defeat.

Although manager Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar used the cliche of “missed chances”, the primary reason for Pakistan’s loss was that their forwards did not click and seemed to lack commitment.

Shahbaz Ahmed, 34, who Pakistan still hope can help them get through, made a few dangerous runs spraying several defence splitting passes, only to see his ending in frustration. Midfielder Waseem Ahmed had an outstanding match and worked really hard.

Argentina’s coach, Jorge Ruiz, whose side had 12 short corners all of them not utilized, joked at the post-match news conference that it could be some sort of a record. “We wanted to win this game and I am happy that we won.”

The Pakistan manager felt that his boys did “alright” and added that it was a good competition. “Argentina did very well, we had our chances but then a 1-0 lead is nothing.”

Champions Netherlands who drew with Spain stayed at the top of Group A with 10 points from four matches on goal difference. The Dutch scored first through Karel Klaver in field play with 21 minutes gone but Spain bounced back with a 55th minute equalizer from Jordi Quintana.

Spain, also with 10 points are second in the pool with Germany, who beat Belgium, in third place.

The European champions put in two goals with Sebestian Biederlack and Sascha being on target in the first half. Then a late third goal was scored by Bjorn Michel. After four matches, Belgium remained without a point in the tournament.

In another game New Zealand collected their first points in Pool A with a 2-1 defeat of South Africa who are still to score a win. After the Kiwis scored early in the first session, a goal from captain Simon Towns, South Africa hit back to level the scores on the stroke of half-time. New Zealand’s winner came on the 59th minute through a short corner.

Spain 1 Netherlands 1

South Africa 1 New Zealand 2

Argentina 2 Pakistan 1

Belgium 0 Germany 3

South Africa remain without a victory after four matches.

Standings

Tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and point.

Netherlands 4 3 1 0 12 3 10

Spain 4 3 1 0 9 4 10

Germany 4 3 0 1 13 5 9

Pakistan 4 3 0 1 11 4 9

Argentina 4 2 0 2 9 9 6

New Zealand 4 1 0 3 3 10 3

Belgium 4 0 0 4 3 13 0

South Africa 4 0 0 4 2 14 0