MADRID, March 5: New Zealand eased past Canada 4-2 to maintain their unbeaten record after two matches and put them joint top of Pool B in the Olympic qualifying hockey tournament here on Thursday.

New Zealand were untroubled by Canada, taking a 4-0 lead 12 minutes into the second half with two quality goals each by Darren Smith and Phillip Burrows. Canada came back with a penalty stroke by captain Rob Short and Ravinder Kahlon's conversion of a penalty corner but it was too little too late.

India came from 0-2 down to defeat Malaysia 5-3 for their first win in Pool B to take them to four points and third place behind Pakistan and New Zealand. Belgium have one point while Canada and Malaysia are winless.

Malaysia went ahead with two penalty corner goals after 12 minutes only to then concede three first-half goals to Deepak Thakur, Gagan Ajit Singh and Dilip Tirkey.

Gagan added another goal in the second half followed by Muhhamad Rahim's penalty stroke which gave Malaysia their only second half goal. Baljit Singh Dhillon scythed through the midfield, finishing his own run for India's fifth goal. But he said that India would have to do better in their next tie against Pakistan after conceding 12 penalty corners and a penalty stroke to Malaysia. Pakistan meet India on Saturday and Oltmans predicted it would be tough.

"India has many good players in its squad and it will be a very tough game. The boys know what we want from them but sometimes emotions get in the way so it will be interesting to see how they deal with the emotions in the match against India." -AFP