LONDON (AP) — Argentina beat South Africa 6-3 to avoid the last-place playoff in men's Olympic field hockey on Tuesday.

Argentina earned its first win in its last pool match and will play for 9th-10th. South Africa will try to avoid last place in a second straight Olympics.

South Africa scored twice in a 30-second span early on. Justin Reid-Ross' penalty corner goal was followed by the Argentine defense giving Lloyd Jones-Norris a free shot, which he took.

The rest of the match was mainly Argentina's, however. Gonzalo Peillat scored the first of his three penalty corner goals off a defender's knee, and Lucas Rossi hit in the rebound of Lucas Vila's shot for 2-2 before halftime.

Peillat's second penalty corner goal put Argentina ahead for good, and Facundo Callioni scored twice off left-wing attacks by Vila and Agustin Mazilli. Jonathan Robinson pegged a goal for South Africa but Peillat got his hat trick in only his 13th international.