Spain stun Britain 8-1

AUCKLAND: A resurgent Spain humiliated Great Britain 8-1 to reach the top four play-offs at the Champions Trophy hockey tournament Tuesday, as Olympic champions Germany struggled to a 3-3 draw with South Korea.

Britain slumped to their heaviest defeat in the competition's history, wilting under pressure from an unrelenting Spanish inquisition in Auckland at the last major men's hockey tournament before the London Olympics.

Coach Jason Lee's side went a goal up through skipper Barry Middleton after 23 minutes but from there it was all one-way traffic as Spain tore apart the British defence.

Spain, desperate to make amends for a disappointing sixth place in this year's European Championships, responded to Middleton's opener with four goals in seven minutes to lead 4-1 at half-time.

Juan Fernandez scored a fifth after the break, then Spain ended the game with another flurry of goals, netting three in the final five minutes to pile on the agony for Britain.