Defending champion Australia's eight-game unbeaten run at the men's Champions Trophy hockey tournament has ended after Spain staged a superb comeback.

Australia stretched Spain's defence wide in the first half and was rewarded with three goals by Grant Eglington, Michael McCann and Grant Schubert as the holders looked to be cruising to victory.

But Santiago Freixa hit back with a penalty corner conversion before the break to keep Spain in the match before second-half strikes from Freixa (2), Eddie Tubau and Pol Amat completed a remarkable comeback.

The Kookaburras' 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Monday had extended their unbeaten streak to eight games at the elite six-nation event, dating back to the start of last year's tournament in Chennai, India.

But Spain's outstanding second half snapped that streak.

In the other games, the Dutch thrashed Pakistan 9-2, while Germany overcame Argentina 3-1.

Spain coach Maurits Hendriks said he had appealed to the pride of his players at the halftime break.

"I played on their emotions at halftime - obviously it was not about tactics," Hendriks said.

"We went out in the second half to get our own confidence and respect back, which was an important motivation for the team."

Australian assistant coach Colin Batch said his side had struggled to contain the Spaniard's forward play in the second half.

"In the second half Spain got some breaks and we were unable to stop their forward flow which is their trademark," Batch said.

"We expected Spain to come out hard after the break with only two goals in it at that stage and we went away from what we had done in the first half which had worked well for us and to Spain's credit they took their chances when they came and the game got away from us."

Earlier, the Netherlands scored at will in a record thrashing of Pakistan.

"This has never happened before to Pakistan and as the coach and the head of the team and on behalf of the whole team we are all ashamed of this performance," said Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa.

Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, a former Pakistan coach, was surprised by the margin of victory.

"It was an advantage for me to have coached Pakistan because I know a little of the way they play and the spaces they leave on the field and we discussed that before the game," he said.

"Nevertheless we did not expect to win with a margin like this."

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