The British, who led 3-0 at half-time, survived a two-goal burst by Pakistan in the second session before taking full points in the pool B match at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.
Britain, who last beat Pakistan 2-1 at the 1952 Helsinki Games, had lost 8-1 and 8-2 in their two previous Olympic meetings in Sydney and Athens.
In another match, world champions Germany were given a scare by Games debutants China before opening their campaign with a facile 4-1 win in pool A.
Britain never looked back after James Tindall scored in the second minute and went into the break after two more goals by Rob Moore and Ashley Jackson.
Pakistan, who won the last of their three Olympic golds at Los Angeles in 1984, made it 2-3 through Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Waqas before their fate was sealed by Matt Daly seven minutes before the end.
British captain Ben Hawes, sent off with a yellow card in the second half, said a semi-final place was still not easy from a pool that also includes reigning champions Australia and the Netherlands.
"We are in a tough pool and have to win every game, so I am definitely happy to win this one," he said.
Coach Jason Lee added: "I had barely settled into my coaching box when we scored the first goal. It showed we were not nervous."
Pakistan coach Naveed Alam blasted his team for missing easy chances.
"I can't be happy when we missed so many goals. It is unacceptable at the start of the tournament. We had seven penalty corners and wasted all of them.
"It makes it difficult for us now, but we will fight all the way."
China, backed by some 1,000 home fans, took the lead through Na Yubo in the seventh minute before Germany restored parity ahead of the break through Christopher Zeller.
Florian Keller fashioned Germany's victory with two stunning goals in the space of 11 minutes in the second half before Carlos Nevado completed the tally two minutes before the final whistle.
German captain Timo Wess said he was delighted at the victory.
"I am not surprised we had problems getting into the game at the start," said Wess.
"We have a young team and for many of them it is their first Olympics, so a bit of nervousness was natural. But once we settled down, we just got better and better," he said.
China's veteran Korean coach Kim Sang-Ryul said the Germans proved they were a stronger team.
"They showed the difference between the two teams," said Kim. "Maye we should not have lost by such a big margin but this is the first time they are playing at the Olympics.
"We can only improve as the competition goes on."(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)first published:August 11, 2008, 11:59 ISTlast updated:August 11, 2008, 11:59 IST
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Beijing: Britain scored their first Olympic men's field hockey victory over Pakistan in 56 years when they won their opening match 4-2 here on Monday.
The British, who led 3-0 at half-time, survived a two-goal burst by Pakistan in the second session before taking full points in the pool B match at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.
Britain, who last beat Pakistan 2-1 at the 1952 Helsinki Games, had lost 8-1 and 8-2 in their two previous Olympic meetings in Sydney and Athens.
In another match, world champions Germany were given a scare by Games debutants China before opening their campaign with a facile 4-1 win in pool A.
Britain never looked back after James Tindall scored in the second minute and went into the break after two more goals by Rob Moore and Ashley Jackson.
Pakistan, who won the last of their three Olympic golds at Los Angeles in 1984, made it 2-3 through Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Waqas before their fate was sealed by Matt Daly seven minutes before the end.
British captain Ben Hawes, sent off with a yellow card in the second half, said a semi-final place was still not easy from a pool that also includes reigning champions Australia and the Netherlands.
"We are in a tough pool and have to win every game, so I am definitely happy to win this one," he said.
Coach Jason Lee added: "I had barely settled into my coaching box when we scored the first goal. It showed we were not nervous."
Pakistan coach Naveed Alam blasted his team for missing easy chances.
"I can't be happy when we missed so many goals. It is unacceptable at the start of the tournament. We had seven penalty corners and wasted all of them.
"It makes it difficult for us now, but we will fight all the way."
China, backed by some 1,000 home fans, took the lead through Na Yubo in the seventh minute before Germany restored parity ahead of the break through Christopher Zeller.
Florian Keller fashioned Germany's victory with two stunning goals in the space of 11 minutes in the second half before Carlos Nevado completed the tally two minutes before the final whistle.
German captain Timo Wess said he was delighted at the victory.
"I am not surprised we had problems getting into the game at the start," said Wess.
"We have a young team and for many of them it is their first Olympics, so a bit of nervousness was natural. But once we settled down, we just got better and better," he said.
China's veteran Korean coach Kim Sang-Ryul said the Germans proved they were a stronger team.
"They showed the difference between the two teams," said Kim. "Maye we should not have lost by such a big margin but this is the first time they are playing at the Olympics.
"We can only improve as the competition goes on."
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