ATHENS, Aug 25: The Netherlands took a giant stride towards a third consecutive Olympic men's field hockey title when they knocked out world champions Germany 3-2 in the semifinal here on Wednesday.

The Dutch, who won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games and retained it in Sydney four years later, scored twice in a four-minute burst in the second half to break the 1-1 deadlock at the interval.

In Friday's final, the Netherlands take on the winner of the second semifinal between Spain and Australia. Matthias Witthaus put Germany ahead in the third minute by scooping a ball past Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels from the right of the circle.

The Netherlands earned their first penalty corner two minutes later which ended with German goalkeeper Clemens Arnold conceding a penalty stroke after squatting on the ball.

Germany substituted Arnold with reserve 'keeper Christian Schulte for the stroke, but it made little difference as Taeke Taekema coolly pushed home to draw level for the Dutch.

The Dutch missed a chance to take the lead late in the first-half when Teun de Nooijer broke through the German defence and made a perfect cross to Karel Klaver standing a few yards from the goal. Klaver, however, failed to connect.

Crossing over after the break, the Dutch scored twice in four minutes to take a firm grip on the match. Marten Eikelboom deflected a free hit from the right in the 48th minute and De Nooijer found the mark from a pass by captain Jeroen Delmee.

Germany reduced the margin through Christoph Bechmann's 58th minute goal, but then saw their hopes of an equaliser being dashed as Dutch 'keeper Vogels palmed off a penalty corner hit by Florian Kunz.

Earlier Britain and South Africa won their playoffs at the bottom of the table leaving Argentina and Egypt to battle for the wooden spoon.

South Africa beat Egypt 5-1 with their top striker Greg Nicol netting a penalty corner within the first two minutes and popping in another two field goals later. The South Africans will play for ninth or 10th place against Britain, who powered past Argentina 4-1. -Agencies