NEW DELHI, March 8 Tournament favourites Australia advanced into the semi-finals of the men's hockey World Cup on Monday after they beat Pakistan 2-1 in a pulsating match to finish top of Pool B.

Desmond Abbott scored twice as Australia completed their matches in the six-team pool, finishing level with England on 12 points but topping the group on goal difference.

European champions England, who pulled off a surprise 3-2 victory over Australia in the opening match, lost 2-0 to Spain at the Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium for their first defeat in the competition.

Pau Quemada and Eduard Tubau scored for Olympic silver medallists Spain who finished third in the group on nine points.

India beat South Africa in the day's final match.

Sohail Abbas put Pakistan ahead against Australia, who won a 10th Champions Trophy in December, in the 24th minute through a penalty corner.

Abbott scored the equaliser three minutes into the second half and netted again shortly before the final whistle.

“We tried out reserve players, because an opportunity was there to test them before the semifinals,” said Australia captain Jamie Dwyer. “It's nice to finish on top of the pool, and now the semifinal will be a different competition,” he said.

Earlier, Olympic silver medalist Spain defeated European champion England 2-0. The victory may have come too late for Spain which has nine points from five games.

Spain's goals against England came through a Pau Quemada's penalty corner conversion in the 35th minute and Eduard Tubau's open-play strike in the 64th minute. —AP