A last minute strike by Kuhan Shanmuganathan helped Malaysia come from behind and force a 3-3 draw with Spain in the 13th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup men's hockey tournament at Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysians were lucky to survive as they trailed 2-3 with a minute left on the board.

At this juncture, they forced two penalty corners, the second of which was converted by Shanmuganathan. In the process, the full-back achieved a hat-trick, having scored the previous two Malaysian goals.

The Spaniards, with a bunch of veterans in the line-up, including those who had carried the side to the finals of the 1996 Olympics [ Images ] and the 1998 World Cup, played well within themselves to contain Malaysia who enjoyed support from the terraces.

Pol Amat, the wily winger, put Spain in the front with a second minute goal after being put through by a long ball from Jaime Perez.

Malaysia drew abreast past the ninth minute with a Shanmuganathan corner.

But Spain regained the initiative with a 17th minute penalty corner goal by Santiago Freixa to take the breather with a 2-1 advantage.

On resumption, the hosts played an inspired game and tied the score when Shanmuganathan converted yet another corner.

Howevever, Spain hit back with a conversion from Freixa in the 44th minute.

They then kept the Malaysians in their own half before giving way in the last minute when they conceded the equaliser.