Ipoh: Argentina saw off a late revival by Pakistan to post a 4-2 win and finish fifth in the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup eight-nation hockey tournament here on Saturday.
Leading 3-0 at the break on goals by Pedro Ibarra (11th), Lucas Rafael Rossi (16th) and Juan Eduardo Garreta (24th), Argentina, who had finished seventh in their debut appearance last year, turned complacent and Pakistan needed no second invitation.
Ehsan Ullah (47th) and Rehan Butt (61st) brought Pakistan back into the match, but Argentina delivered the final blow in the 65th through Pedro who converted his second penalty corner of the game.
Pakistan appeared rather jaded in the first-half as Argentina called the tune to take the upper hand. With the Pakistani defence walking up the panic street when under pressure, goals came rather easily for Argentina.
However, in the second-half, there was a dramatic change in fortunes as Pakistanis, enjoying some space in the midfield as Argentina, who had earlier beaten Australia 1-0 but lost to India 2-0, relaxed their grip, launched a series of attacks to score twice.
A draw appeared imminent as the Pakistanis troubled the Argentine defence no end. But, the South Americans, who had finished seventh in their debut appearance last year, scored their fourth of a penalty corner.
It was Pakistan's worst finish in this tournament that they had won in 1999, 2000 and 2003. Last year, they had finished fifth.
Earlier, a three-goal burst, including two in the last four minutes, by Xian Tang Liu, featured China's 4-2 win against Canada in a play-off for the 7-8 positions.
Yi Song (27th) scored the other Chinese goal after Liu had opened their account in the 17th. Canada, fighting for all their worth, scored through Wayne Fernandes (27th) and Paul Wettlaufer (34th).
Debutants China, the silver medallists at the 2006 Asian Games, thus completed their engagements on a high while Canada, preparing for this year's Pan-Amercian Games that doubles up as a qualifier for the 2008 Olympics, returned home happy at the exposure to their young team.
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