ATHENS, Aug 26: Pakistan defeated arch-rivals India 3-0 here on Wednesday to ensure they stand among the top six in the Olympic men's field hockey competition (partly reported on Thursday's edition).

Tariq Aziz, Sohail Abbas and Shabbir Mohammad scored for Pakistan in the second-half after a goal less opening session on pitch two of the Helliniko stadium. Pakistan, fourth at the Sydney Games four years ago, will battle with New Zealand on Friday for fifth place.

New Zealand came from behind to defeat South Korea 4-3 earlier on Wednesday, with Phillip Burrows scoring two of his three goals in the last eight minutes. The win ensured New Zealand a place in the six-nation Champions Trophy to be held in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore in December.

World Cup winners Germany, Champions Trophy holders the Netherlands, Champions Challenge winners Spain, Olympic finalists Australia and hosts Pakistan are the other teams in the elite tournament.

Pakistan and India, who have won 11 Olympic gold medals between them, were forced to play the classification matches after failing to qualify for the semifinals. Pakistan finished third in group A behind Spain and world champions Germany. India stood fourth in group B.

India need to defeat the Koreans on Friday to match their seventh place finish at Sydney. "We were very unhappy not to make the semifinals, but it is better to finish in the top six than seventh or eighth," said Pakistan's Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans.

"We were slow to start but I was confident we will win because the boys had the Indians in control." India, watched by a handful of dejected supporters, once again paid for relaxing towards the end.

"It is hard to explain why they fight well for 50 minutes, but then just throw it away," said German Gerhard Rach, who took over as India's coach three weeks before the Games. "Barring a few players, this is a young Indian team and I know they will grow into a strong side in future." -AFP