KUALA LUMPUR, March 7: Having failed to qualify for the semifinals of the World Cup hockey tournament, Pakistan took a big step towards sealing their place in this year’s Champions Trophy, with a 2-1 win over a fighting Malaysia.

But Pakistan’s victory put them in a clash with Argentina, the very side that turned their World Cup bid upside down, beating them in the preliminary round.

Pakistan, who need to finish fifth in this tournament in order to be allowed into the elite Champions Trophy, were a goal up at half-time, thanks to the brilliance of Sohail Abbas.

The 26-year-old defender, was on target from a 19th minute short corner in his trademark style that has seen him score eight goals in this tournament and he becomes the joint top scorer with Argentina’s Jorge Lombi.

Malaysia blew a golden chance to keep their bid to finish the tournament among the top five when a defensive blunder by Shaiful Azli, found Shahbaz Ahmed perfectly placed to blast in Pakistan’s second goal in the 53rd minute. A late effort by Tajol Rosli from a short corner, Malaysia’s fifth of the match, was not much consolation.

And Malaysia’s German coach Paul Lissek was furious at his players, especially Shaiful Azli, for throwing away what he thought was their best chance to beat Pakistan and move towards the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan did not look sharp in the field and the first half appeared balanced, both sides getting scoring opportunities, with forwards on either side messing things up. The first short corner that the green shirts earned as early as the 11th minute was wasted as the ball could not be stopped and then Muhammad Saqlain, was unable to hit the ball too well from the left and then Shahbaz and captain Sarwar going off the mark.

But Pakistan, leading 1-0, had to survive an agonising three minutes when Malaysia pressed forward to force three short corners on the trot, all of them being wasted though, much to the relief of the four-time champions.

Pakistan’s best chance to enhance their advantage came on the stroke of half-time. And with the hooter having sounded, Jamaluddin in goal blocked the shot taken by Sohail.

Malaysia, egged on by a big crowd, looked dangerous at times with Chairal Anwar and Tajol Rosli Mohamed, making inroads into the Pakistan semi-circle but only some good defending kept them from getting the equalizer in a half in which they had four short corners.

In an exciting second session that witnessed two goals, Pakistan started well and threatened the Malaysian defence in which Nor Azlan stood out. However, the home side could have leveled the scores as they got some opportunities that they could not convert into goals. To make matters worse, they let in a second goal on the run of play.

But the Malaysians managed to hit back and reduced the margin, and some desperate attempts towards to equalise went in vain.

Pakistan manager Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar said that Malaysia played a good game while adding that the goal they scored was “alarming”.

A victory Friday would earn Pakistan the only available slot in this September’s Champions Trophy. The four semifinalists of this World Cup’s Australia, Germany, Netherlands and Korea are already through while India take the fifth spot by virtue of having won the Champions Challenge in Kuala Lumpur last December.

Argentina needed a golden goal from Jorge Lombi to beat England 2-1 in extra-time. After Argentina led 1-0 at half-time via a Lombi goal, England bounced back through Danny Hall on the 48th. Both sides remained locked at the end of scheduled time before Lombi struck on the 79th minute to settle the fate of the match.

England will now play Malaysia Friday to decide which side finishes seventh and eighth.