A penalty stroke converted by Malaysia in the 69th minute helped them hold Pakistan 3-3 in a Pool 'A' match of the seventh Asia Cup here on Wednesday. The draw put the Malaysians in the semifinals while leaving Pakistan with the prospect of not making the last-four grade for the first time in the history of the tournament.

Malaysia now have 10 points, while three-time champions Pakistan have seven. Japan have six points and have a game against Singapore on Thursday, which the former are quite likely to win. A Japan victory will mean exit for Pakistan.

The Pakistan-Malaysia match had some doubtful decisions from umpires Chen Dekang and Jang Jung Min, and the penalty stroke was one of them. It was unfortunate for Pakistan as they were leading 3-0 at half-time.

Earlier, in the China-South Korea match in Pool 'B', it all boiled down to one penalty corner. China converted the corner in the last minute and held Asian Games champions South Korea 3-3.

The race for the second semifinal spot from Pool B is now on with Korea and China both having seven points each. However, Korea have a goal difference of 25, while China have 18. China play Sri Lanka and Korea take on Bangladesh on Thursday. While the possibility is that China and Korea will post easy wins, it will all boil down to who has a better goal margin.

At the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium, Korea just did not show the form they have displayed so far in the tournament. They looked all at sea at times and were a total let down towards the end as China, who looked threatening at times, scored two goals in the last 11 minutes to force a draw. Initially, the Koreans were all over the Chinese circle but the latter held out well. The game subsequently slowed down but the Korean attacking was existent only in patches.

This, after the Koreans were given a rude shock by China, who scored first through Meng Lizhi in the 11th minute off a Li Wei cross from the right flank. That spurred Korea to shift gears and they got their equaliser 10 minutes later through Oh Dae Keun, off a pass from Kim Byung Hoon.

Then came a period when there were more of midfield exchanges rather than exciting forays. Korea still tried to push ahead but it was a long time before they took the lead again, scoring twice in successive minutes. Drag-flicker Jang Jong Hyun converted in the 52nd minute and Kang Seong Jung struck a field goal in the 53rd.

But China scored off Li Wei (59th) and Luo Fang Ming (70th) to spoil Korea's plans.

Results: Pool A: Pakistan: 3 (Shakeel Abbasi 17th, 26th, Akhtar Ali 33rd) drew with Malaysia: 3 (Ahmed Tajuddin 43rd, 57th, Megat Azrafiq 69th PS).

Pool B: Sri Lanka: 9 (Md Gazally 10th, 67th, Anju Hewage 15th PC, 38th, Hettiarachchi 17th, 63rd, Karunarathne 27th PC, Pradeep Priyashantha 51st PC, Abeyrathne 70th) bt Thailand: 1 (Sadkoran Wimuttan 60th PC); Korea: 3 (Oh Dae Keun 21st, Jang Jong Hyun 52nd PC, Kang Seong Jung 53rd) drew with China: 3 (Meng Lizhi 11th, Li Wei 59, Luo Fang Ming 70th PC).

Thursday's matches: Japan vs Singapore (3.00 pm); China vs Sri Lanka (4.00 pm, YMCA ground); Korea vs Bangladesh (5.00 pm); India vs Thailand (7.00 pm).