India meet Holland in Semis; Pakistan crash out

Kuala Lumpur, June 22 (UNI) Fancied Pakistan made an exit after Holland played a goalless draw with New Zealand today to set up a semifinal clash with India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament here.

In the other semifinal, Olympic Champions Australia take on New Zealand.

Holland were tied with Pakistan on four points each after the latter crashed to a surprising 0-2 defeat at the hands of lowly Argentina.

However, the Dutch pipped Pakistan on a better goal average to advance into the last four.

Pakistan would have gone through if the Kiwis had beaten the Dutch. But the match hardly lived up to its billing. Both the teams were confined to the flanks and kept ball possession without showing any real urge to create and score the goals.

Holland had a few chances in the first half but twice Teun de Nooijer sent the ball into vacant spaces.

With around three minutes remaining in the match, the Kiwis made a last ditch effort to get a goal but the ball slashed from inside the striking circle hit the outside netting.

In the dying seconds, both the teams kept the ball away and seemed happy in securing a draw that ensured Holland made it to the semi-finals.

Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans said that his team had the chance to wrap up the game but his forwards failed to deliver.

Refusing to speak about the semifinal against India Oltmans said, ''I don't want to comment on the Indian team. We can only know after the semi-final is over.'' UNI XC DH PM1726