Athens: Pakistan scored a convincing 3-0 win over South Korea to take one more stride towards a semi-final berth from Group A in the Olympic Men's hockey competition in Athens today (Aug 19, 2004).

In the clash between two top Asian teams Pakistan, aiming for a gold medal after a gap of 20 years, played a scratchy first half but regrouped in the second to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Sydney Olympic silver medallists.

Rehan Butt (43rd), Shakeel Abbasi (56th) and Sohail Abbas (65) scored the goals for Pakistan to take their teams' points tally to six from three outings.

Pakistan, who last won the gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, looked out of sorts in the first half preferring to get the measure of their wily opponents.

But the Koreans also lacked the understanding and penetration to trouble the Pakistanis, as both teams were unable to make any brilliant moves. But the breather seemed to do wonders for the Pakistanis as they went on the offensive from the word go and launched attacks from both flanks on the Korean goal.

But it was a lucky deflection by centre forward Rehan Butt, which broke the deadlock, as he barely connected a free, hit from Abbas.