LAHORE, Dec 10: Pakistan once again failed as Spain stormed into the six nation Champions Trophy hockey final after 3-0 victory in the crucial match on Friday. On one hand defeat ended Pakistan's hopes of reaching the final.

On the other it set up yet another mouth watering game against India for the bronze medal. India, having better goal difference, will play for the third place classification game after a 1-1 draw with New Zealand at National Hockey Stadium.

It will be the third consecutive time that Pakistan will be vying for bronze medal at the Trophy against India. The performance by the green shirts was perhaps the worst-ever in the tournament as Pakistanis neither had control nor could they execute accurate passes.

Over enthusiastic Pakistanis kept Spain under an avalanche of attack in the opening 15 minutes. But Spaniards did not have to work hard as Pakistan either missed chances or could hardly keep possession.

It was a brilliant save by goalkeeper Salman Akbar that prevented Spain from breaking the ice in the 19th minute through Rodrigo Garza penalty corner try. Kashif Jawwad could not meet a Shakeel Abbasi cross, while Sohail Abbas, who was off target a minute before halftime, could not do much since Pakistan forced just one penalty corner as compared to Spain's five.

A three-touch move generated by Shakeel and Rehan Butt ended on Mudassir Ali's failure who fumbled in the 42nd minute. Shabbir Hussain squandered what was a golden opportunity following a Shakeel pass a minute later.

Spain opened the scoring when an indirect effort was converted into a penalty stroke after a foul by Dilawar Hussain. Alex Fabregas had no difficulty in slotting home the stroke with a low push from the spot past Salman.

Pakistan compounded their miseries when they were reduced to ten men after Mohammad Saqlain got temporary suspension for hitting Spain's Victor Sojo. While a Dilawar free hit could not produce results, Shakeel fluffed an opening before losing possession, although he had rounded Spain goalkeeper Bernardino Herrera.

Salman once again came to Pakistan's resuce when he denied Albert Sala on the third penalty corner. Pakistan finally buckled under as a defensive lapse on the fourth short corner made it 2-0, David Alegre rifling home off a rebound from the goalie in the 53rd minute.

Sensing their failure, the forwards tried to force short corners instead of trying through field effort. But the tactic also failed as Spain defence held firm. Rehan came into action in the 50th minute from a narrow angle but the goal was disallowed for a foul.

The Spaniards, however, got what they were looking for two minutes before the end through Freixa who hammered the last nail into hosts coffin with a spectacular reverse hit that baffled Salman.

Later Germany created the biggest upset of the tournament with a shock 4-3 win over and The Netherlands to meet New Zealand in the relegation game. Nick Meijer opened The Netherlands account in the 9th minute before Germany's Jan-Marco Montag equalised in the 18th minute.

Roderick Weusthof put the Dutchmen ahead seconds before break, while Oliver Hentschel got the leveller for Germany two minutes into second session. Taeke Taekema got the third for the Dutch in the 41st minute, Michael Purps netted the equaliser in the 60th minute and Christian Wein slammed the winner three minutes before time.

Earlier, New Zealand opening the scoring through Darren Smith in the 56th minute. India levelled through Arjun Halappa 62nd-minute penalty stroke. Saturday is the rest day. Final and classification matches will be played on Sunday.

Pakistan 0 Spain 3

Netherlands 3 Germany 4

India 1 New Zealand 1