ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (AFP) - Australia defeated South Korea 5-3, Argentina and Germany drew 2-2 while the Netherlands defeated Spain 3-1 on the first day of the men's Champions Trophy field hockey tournament here Saturday.

Australia controlled the first 15 minutes of each half to score all five goals through Eli Matheson, David Guest, Jamie Dwyer, Andrew Smith and Liam de Young.

"Overall we are pleased with the result although the areas we need to improve are our conversion of our chances in the circle," said Australian coach Barry Dancer.

"Korea showed us some questions marks or two in the second half and they are a team to reckon with so I am relieved they are not in our pool at the Olympics."

Timo Wess' conversion of Germany's sixth penalty corner in the last minutes saved World Cup winners Germany the embarrassment of a loss to seventh ranked Argentina.

The 2-2 draw indicates Germany still has more to do before Beijing.

Florian Keller converted Germany's first penalty corner, flicking low inside the left post after six minutes.

Argentina came back with goals on both sides of the break by Matias Paredes and Rodrigo Vila, threatening to take the upset win for the last 15 minutes.

Argentina coach Carlos Retegui believes his team is set on a new course to qualify for the next World Cup through the Pan American Games next March.

"We have not qualified for the Beijing Olympics so we have set ourselves a new objective to qualify for the next World Cup and to do that by playing more as a team, using the skills we have to play collectively," Retegui said.

Germany coach Markus Weise was not satisfied with his team's performance.

"It was not a good performance and I am not happy with the fact we could not convert our strengths into goals and we lost touch with the game in the second half," Weise said.

"Some players were playing under pressure of selection and perhaps they played passively, taking no risks and afraid to make mistakes because of the pressure of selection."

The Dutch broke Spain's spirit with an early Teun de Nooijer goal and led 3-0 until Xavier Ribas gave Spain some honour with a penalty corner conversion late in the match.

"In the first half we played very well and I expected this performance after seeing the level of intensity in the team in training and their willingness to play at this level," said Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans.

"In the first half we showed some very good combinations and good penetration and great goals."

Matthijs Brouwer set up the first goal after Netherlands broke out of Spain's high press. Brouwer drove a pass to goal from the deep left sideline for de Nooijer to deflect into goal.

Ronald Brouwer scorched a shot past Francisco Cortes in Spain's goal in the middle of the first half and former Scotsman Laurence Docherty improved his chance of playing in Beijing for his adopted country with a goal midway through the second.

On Sunday, Argentina play Australia, Spain meet South Korea and Netherlands take on Germany.