NEW DELHI: Asian champions South Korea defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the men's field hockey World Cup yesterday, but still lost out on a semi-final spot to the Dutch.

Both teams finished the league with 10 points each, one behind group A leaders Germany, but the Dutch ousted the Koreans on a superior goal difference of plus-10 against their rivals' plus-eight.

In tomorrow's semi-finals, defending champions Germany will clash with England, while the Dutch will take on group B leaders Australia.

The Koreans, Asia's lone survivors after India and Pakistan crashed out early, fought back after Ronald Brouwer gave the Dutch an early lead in the 25th second of the match.

Brouwer latched on to a pass from Teun de Nooijer, who left the Korean defence stranded with a speedy run down the centre soon after the start.

Both sides were locked 1-1 at half-time as Nam Hyun-Woo equalised for the Koreans with his team's first penalty corner three minutes before the interval.

The Koreans took the lead 10 minutes after resumption through a superb flick by captain Seo Jong-Ho.

Germany, looking for a hat-trick of World Cup titles to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal, outclassed New Zealand 5-2 earlier in the day.