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South Africa

An under-strength South Korea beat South Africa 3-2 Friday, lifting them to the top of the seven team standings, at least for a few hours.

Their victory put added pressure on previous leaders Pakistan and defending champions Australia as they battled to finish in the top two of the seven-team tournament in order to contest Sunday's final.

Olympic champions Australia needed to defeat India in their final match later on Friday while Pakistan needed only a draw against hosts Malaysia, also on Friday.

South Korea sent out a team devoid of many of their first-team players, seemingly happy to hold on to third in the standings.

They still proved too strong for the battling South Africans, who finished bottom of the standings without a single win.

The South Africans briefly held a 1-0 lead in the first half as South Korea performed the second-half fightback that has been their trademark throughout this tournament.

Steve Philips gave South Africa a seventh-minute lead but Korea levelled 13 minutes later through Jang Jong-hyuns penalty corner.

A penalty stroke from Kim Kyung-seok in the 48th minute put South Korea 2-1 ahead, although Philips renewed South African hopes with a field goal with 13 minutes left.

However, South Koreas superior fitness proved decisive as Seo Jong-ho slammed home the winner with only four minutes remaining.

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