ATHENS, Aug 17: Pakistan, powered by a Sohail Abbas hat trick, routed Egypt 7-0 to get their first win in the Olympic hockey competition on Tuesday. Sohail returned to form by hammering four goals in a row as Pakistan took a firm 5-0 lead at half time.

Pakistan, beaten by Germany 2-1 in the opening match on Sunday, looked composed against the weaker rivals who are the African champions. Pakistan took control right from the start, dominating with field attacks and converting short corners to completely keep their rivals under pressure.

Egypt tried to maintain a speedy pace in the game but Pakistan's forwards thwarted their plans. Kashif Jawwad scored in third and the 12th minutes, first seizing a deflection for the first goal and then was set up by Rehan Butt for the second.

Skipper Mohammad Nadeem made it 3-0 after finding the goal from the mid of the circle and then Sohail went into action. The world's most feared penalty corner shooter, who Had failed to score against the Germans, seemed fully focussed by converting the first and third short corners in 29th and 34th minutes.

Sohail converted fourth penalty corner to complete his hat trick in the fourth minute of the second session. Egypt gained four short corners in first half. But goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who played in place of Ahmad Alam, brought off fine saves off the first two while the remaining tries were out of target.

Sohail completed his tally of goals by scoring in the 57th minute, converting a penalty stroke. Having taken an unassailable lead, the Pakistanis relaxed but still were close to scoring midway through the second half but poor finishing and lifeless shooting deprived them. Both Kashif and Rehan missed open chances.

India, meanwhile, came back from 2-0 down to pull off a 2-2 draw against the tough South Africans after Australia also came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Argentina. South Korea beat Great Britain 3-2 to go temporarily top of the pool ahead of Pakistan, Germany and Britain.

The Dutch defending champions were taking on New Zealand later in Pool B, while in Pool A, Spain were coming up against Germany. South African Greg Nicol's 7th minute penalty goal was followed five minutes later by Craig Fulton with a field goal as their side, already with three points in the bag from their defeat of Argentina on Sunday, looked like again thwarting Indian fire power.

But the Asians - 3-1 losers to the Netherlands on Sunday - rallied towards the end of the first half with a penalty corner from veteran Dhanraj Pillay, and came out determined for the second period.

They were rewarded in the 41st minute with another penalty corner score from Baljeet Singh, leaving them at least with a point on the pool scoreboard, while South Africa temporarily joined the Aussies at the top with four points.

Dwyer, who had scored a hat trick in the Australians' 4-1 defeat of New Zealand on Sunday, rescued his side with a goal four minutes from time after Argentina twice took the lead.

Mario Almada scored both goals for Argentina, putting his side in the lead in the 2nd minute and striking again in the 31st. Dwyer had equalized in the 26th and came up with the equalizer in the 66th to rescue a point for an Australian side bidding for a first-ever Olympic gold.

Argentina had been beaten 2-1 by South Africa are left Still looking for their first victory. South Korea, who had drawn their opening match of the tournament against Spain, grabbed all three points against Britain with a winner three minutes from time from Lee Jung Seon following a penalty corner that left a finals core of 3-2.

Lee had given his side the lead in the 15th minute only for Danny Hall to level in the 45th minute. Yeo Woon Kon put Korea back in front two minutes later but Niall Stott levelled in the 52nd. -Agencies

Pool A