Although Pakistan fell victim to two late goals their coach was happier with the performance.

“We are in a building process which will take some time,” Tahir Zaman said.

“There was a lot of psychological pressure on the boys playing the world champions in their home country.”

A relatively inexperienced Pakistani side had fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 before the traditional strength of the Germans in never knowing when they’re beaten prevailed as they scored two goals in three minutes to secure victory.

Veteran Oliver Domke had given the hosts the lead in the 19th minute before Kashif Jawwad levelled two minutes later and Mohammad Sarwar handed them the lead in the 51st minute, although he was to boot his copybook with a yellow card in the 64th minute.

The Germans took full advantage by scoring in the 66th and 68th minutes thanks to Florien Kunz and Bjorn Emmerling respectively.

“We had some doubts about the outcome. But it is one of our strengths to fight back. Luckily things went well again today,” said Emmerling.

India fought back twice and then relinquished a 3-2 lead to draw 3-3 with Netherlands in the second match.

Dutch coach Joost Bellaart was left fuming after seeing his team let slip a 2-1 lead - Taeke Taekama and Matthijs Brouwer scoring for the 1998 world champions while Jugraj Singh netted for India.

Not even Brouwer’s second goal which salvaged the draw in the 70th minute after veteran Dhanraj Pillay and Prabhjot Singh had edged them 3-2 ahead could cool down the Dutch handler.

Though facing a more experienced team, India adopted the tactic of passing rather than beating the opposition with flashy stick-work.

However Netherlands had the measure of India in the first half, but were not able to assert their superiority until Taekema flicked home Netherlands’ first goal in the 11th minute from a penalty corner.

Jugraj Singh hit the equalizer, converting a penalty stroke in the 22nd minute but Brouwer put Netherlands ahead 2-1 at the end of the first half with a deflected goal from a free hit outside the circle.

Pillay converted a penalty corner (59th minute) to bring India back on level terms at 2-2.

Pillay’s reflexes created the goal as the ball rebounded from the keeper to him and he made a chipped cover drive past Guus Vogels in goal.

India took control of the match from the Dutch and took a 3-2 lead thanks to coach Rajinder Singh’s tactics of playing the long overhead to the forward pocket or the long pass to the circle from deep in defence.

This resulted in a brilliant goal to Prabhjot Singh.

From a long overhead from inside the defensive quarter, Deepak Thakur pounced on the ball in behind the Dutch defence and passed into the centre of the circle.

Prabhjot dived and deflect the pass from the right into the empty goal (57 minute).

However Rajinder Singh was to be left chanting the familiar mantra when Brouwer collected his second of the match right on full-time.

In the third match South Korea came from behind to upset Australia 3-2. Australia took the lead in the 19th minute which was levelled in 33rd minute. South Korea then pumped two goals in four minutes (56, 59) before Australia reduced the margin in 65th minute.—AFP/dpa