India, Australia, Argentina win as Belgium hold England to 1-1 draw

BHUBANESWAR, India: Hosts India stunned the Netherlands 3-2 as the preliminary league ended in a flourish in the Champions Trophy field hockey on Tuesday.

In other matches on day three of the eight-nation tournament, Argentina crushed Olympic gold-medallists Germany 3-0, England and Belgium drew 1-1 and world champions Australia defeated Pakistan 3-0 to record their first win after two losses.

With all eight teams advancing into Thursday´s quarter-finals, the stage is set for a rousing contest at the Kalinga stadium in the eastern city of Bhubaneswar.

Skipper Matias Paredes, Joaquin Menini and Ignacio Ortiz scored for Pan-American champions Argentina to condemn Germany to their second defeat in three games.

"This win was very satisfying because we kept them under pressure throughout the game and converted the chances that came our way," said Parades. "We don´t want to lose this momentum."

India bounced back from morale-sapping defeats in the first two matches to put it across the world number two Dutchmen in front of 10,000 screaming home fans.

After the first two quarters went by goalless, India took the lead early in the third quarter through Sowmarpet Sunil, but the Dutchmen quickly drew level through Mink van der Weerden.

The fired-up Indians struck twice in as many minutes in the last quarter through Manpreet Singh and Rupinder Singh and then kept the Dutch at bay after Weerden made it 2-3 two minutes before the final whistle.

England and Belgium played out a 1-1 draw to remain the only unbeaten teams in pool A after Iain Lewers equalised Belgian Amaury Keusters´ ninth-minute goal in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Hayward slammed in two penalty corners and Jacob Whetton netted the third as five-time defending champions Australia finally came into their own to brush aside Pakistan.

Australia´s opponents on Thursday will be Argentina with the victor billed to clash with the winner of the England-Germany match in the semi-finals.

The bottom half has the Netherlands playing Pakistan and Belgium taking on India. (AFP)