Jason Lee's side led after two minutes when Surbiton forward James Tindall (pictured) flicked a shot from a penalty corner past Spain goalkeeper Francisco Cortes.

 

The advantage lasted just six minutes though as Xavier Ribas equalised.
 
Ribas added a second in the 16th minute to put Spain in front after a penalty corner was upgraded to a penalty stroke after a video referral.
 

However, England fought back and Tindall levelled the scores after half an hour's play and a minute later he laid on the third for Barry Middleton.
 

But England were denied a victory by Eduard Tubau's 66th-minute strike.

 

They now face Australia in their next group game on Tuesday, and are currently fifth in the six-team pool.
 

Assistant coach Bobby Crutchley was particularly unhappy with the circumstances surrounding Spain's second goal.

 

He said: "It's frustrating.

 

"[The video referral system) is a trial so errors are going to be made and that's understandable.
 

"It's not the fault of those using it but we actually felt, when Spain referred the penalty corner decision that was then awarded as a penalty stroke, that the replay actually confirmed a penalty corner, not a stroke.

 

"So far the system isn't solving the problem it was designed to."
 

In other results on Sunday, Korea upset Germany to win 5-3 and Australia beat Holland 7-2, the worst result for the Dutch in their Champions Trophy history.

 

 

Related stories

November 2009: England lose opening Champions Trophy match

November 2009: Lee to keep focus on London 2012