SALTA: Pakistan failed to break Argentina’s winning streak as the hosts beat them 3-1 in the Champions Challenge Cup-I hockey tournament while denting their chances for a semi-final qualification at Popeye Baseball Club here on Tuesday.

Pakistan, which beat Canada 2-1 in their opening match, need a clear win against South Africa on Dec 10. A draw can eliminate them from the event.

Argentina, which routed South Africa 6-2 earlier, has already qualified for the semi-finals. It was Pakistan’s third successive defeat at the hands of Argentina in international hockey.

They have beaten them 1-0 in the World Cup in 2006 in Germany, followed by a 2-1 win in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in 2007.

The home team jolted the former world champions with a goal in the first minute that was scored by Facundo Callioni.

Argentina enhanced Pakistan’s worries by folding the first half with a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute when they converted their first short corner through penalty-corner specialists Pedro Ibarra.

Pakistan’s penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas also appeared out of touch when he converted a lone short corner out of the five.

Pakistan received another blow in the 52nd minute when Pedro Ibarra scored in an indirect conversion drill to change the scoreline to 3-1 and making possibilities of a comeback for Pakistan next to impossible.—APP