England's men must salvage their medal hopes in the third-place play-off against Malaysia after cruelly losing 2-1 to a Pakistan golden goal in the hockey semi-finals.

They trailed to Shakeel Abassi's 53rd-minute goal but three minutes from time Surbiton forward Matt Daly drag-flicked in a penalty corner to take the match into extra time.

However, just two minutes into the added period Abassi turned home from close range to dash England's hopes.

An untidy first half began with England conceding a penalty corner when the ball became trapped under goalkeeper Jon Ebsworth but fortunately Pakistan's routine was not up to scratch.

Ben Hawes deflected wide Simon Mantell's penalty corner in the ninth minute while from England's second set-piece, in the 23rd minute, James Tindall's effort was charged down after taking too long.

Pakistan then had a close-range goal by Abassi ruled out because the ball had bounced off the player's foot before England had a lucky escape when Tariq Aziz's deflection rebounded off the underside of the crossbar and Ebsworth made a good save from the follow-up shot.

England should have had a penalty stroke two minutes before the interval when Hawes' flick from a short corner hit Mohammed Imran's foot in front of goal but Australian umpire David Gentles did not see it.

Simon Mantell almost broke the deadlock with a delicate chip over Ahmed in the 45th minute but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the far post.

Midway through the second half Pakistan scored the goal England had been fearing when Mantell lost possession and a quick attack was launched which saw the ball played to Abassi who clipped a first-time shot past Ebsworth.

Pakistan visibly grew in confidence but England almost equalised when Hawes' drag flick from a 65th-minute penalty corner was saved at close range by Ahmed.

With three minutes remaining Daly produced a powerful drag flick from a penalty corner to take the match into extra time.

However, Abassi clipped home a shot at the near post soon after the re-start.

Holders Australia beat Malaysia 6-0 in the other semi-final.