Spain crush Pakistan to make first ever Champions Trophy final

Spain stormed into the final of the men's Champions Trophy hockey for the first time with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Pakistan here on Friday. Some 20,000 home fans, who turned up at the National Hockey Stadium despite the early 9:00 am start, walked out disappointed after Pakistan were outplayed in a match they had to win to make the final. Spain, who only needed a draw to move ahead, take on defending champions the Netherlands in Sunday's final of the elite six-nation event.
Pakistan now India in the bronze medal play-off. After a barren first half, Spain went ahead in the 47th minute when Alex Fabregas converted a penalty stroke that came their way after Pakistan defender Ghazanfar Ali blocked a penalty corner shot with his body.
Six minutes later, David Alegre put the game beyond Pakistan's reach by scoring Spain's second goal following another penalty corner.
Santiago Freixa, who on Thursday was voted the International Young Player of the Year, pumped in Spain's third goal two minutes before the end.
Spain allowed Pakistan just one penalty corner in the match, which ace drag flicker Sohail Abbas failed to convert.
The Spanish ended the round-robin league with four wins from five games to take their tally to 12 points, three more than Pakistan.
"We blocked the penalty corners and defended sensibly, just as we had done at the Olympics in Athens," said Spain's Dutch coach Maurits Hendriks.
Spain had beaten Pakistan 4-0 in Athens in August where they finished fourth.
"The real challenge lies ahead in the final because the Dutch are the most stable team in world hockey," Hendriks said.
"But we will be up to it. We want to make our first Champions Trophy final a memorable one."
Pakistan's Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, who ends his contract with the team after the tournament, rued the missed chances by the forwards.
"We had the better of the exchanges but just could not score," Oltmans said.
"It was not a hopeless performance but it surely was a hopeless result for us."-
INDIA HOLD KIWIS: India set up a bronze medal play-off with Pakistan after forcing a lucky 1-1 draw against New Zealand.
Arjun Halappa converted a controversial penalty stroke 8th minute from the final whistle to help India share points after Darren Smith had put New Zealand ahead in the 55th minute.
The Kiwis, who wasted seven penalty corners, protested at Pakistani umpire Faiz Mohammad Faizi's decision to award India the stroke when striker Adam Sinclair was brought down inside the circle.
India needed a draw to finish fourth in the six-nation round robin league while the Kiwis had to win.
India ended the league with four points - one win, one draw and three losses - while the Kiwis were stranded on two points gained from two drawn games.
In Sunday's play-offs, India will meet Pakistan, who were stuck in third position after being crushed 3-0 by Spain.
Spain face holders the Netherlands in their first ever Champions Trophy final the same day
In the final match of the league, Germany swamped the Netherlands by four goals to three in a tussle of no importance. The goals for Germany were caged by Jan-Marco Montag in the 18th min, Niklas Meinert in the 38th min, Michael Purps in the 60th min and Christian Wein in the 67th min. For the Netherlands, Nick Meijer in the 9th min, Roderick Weusthof in the 35th min and Taeke Taekema in the 40 min were able to find the target.

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POINTS TABLE

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Standings          P   W   D   L    F    A  Pts

Spain              5   4   0   1   17    7   12

The Netherlands    5   4   0   1   21   13   12

Pakistan           5   3   0   2    9   10    9

India              5   1   1   3    9   13    4

Germany            5   1   1   3    9   15    4

New Zealand        5   0   2   3    6   13    2

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