International tournament news

WC 2010 New Delhi New Zealand beat South Africa

2010-3-13

The Black Sticks rode their luck, used three get out of jail free cards, and eventually sneaked home 5-4 over plucky South Africa in a shootout to claim ninth place at the World Cup this morning New Zealand time (Saturday, March 13).

Again, though, the victory posed more questions for coach Shane McLeod than providing him with the answers he was looking for.

Down a goal inside three minutes and still trailing by that at halftime, New Zealand got back to 1-1 four minutes in the second spell, took the lead within two minutes before, almost as quickly, they surrendered that advantage. Again, they hit back quickly to lead 3-2.

The goalfest continued as South Africa scored the fifth goal in a frantic 11-minute burst for 3-3 before further turning the screws in going ahead with 14 minutes to play.

For all but the precious last few seconds they were rarely troubled in holding on.

With the clock running down, the Black Sticks won a penalty corner. With the end-of-match hooter having already been blown, Andy Hayward stepped forward and coolly slotted for 4-4 with his third drag flick of the half.

Sent to two periods of sudden death extra time, New Zealand, and Hayward, with the hooter having already sounded, had yet another late chance to “seal the deal.” His shot flew goalwards, took a deflection which the video umpire later confirmed came from a South African stick rather than body to send the game to the dreaded penalty stroke shootout.

Ryan Archibald stepped forward. Just as quickly he pulled his attempt wide.

After a South African miss scores were locked at 2-2 then 4-4 before Black Sticks goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex denied the South Africans their hoped for 5-4 lead as the second phase of the shootout began.

Up stepped stand-in captain Dean Couzins - taking the first attempt ahead of Archibald. Quickly he fired low and hard to beat Erasmus Pieterse for 5-4 and raced to join his team-mates in celebrating.

McLeod was far from happy despite claiming the win which is likely to see New Zealand’s world ranking rise a place to seventh on the back of Pakistan’s disastrous showing here.

“We have standards which we fell short of today,” said McLeod. “Some players did not perform to the standard we were expecting. We have to give the South Africans some credit for that.

“They play a hustle and bustle style which is not easy to counter but, more importantly, they came in the game determined to finish ninth which would have been a creditable effort. As much as I don’t like to admit, there was a hint of complacency among our players and it showed.

“It is not ideal in having to play catch up but we should be good enough to do it.”

While refusing to make excuses, McLeod again reiterated just how difficult it had been for his team in playing without strikers Simon Child and Phil Burrows.

“It meant a player like Nick Wilson, at just 19 years of age, had to step out as our senior striker. That is a big ask and I thought he responded to the challenge magnificently.”

He was not so glowing in looking elsewhere admitting he is now prepared to make “the hard calls” in naming his next squad.

“We will freshen our squad now. It would be a crime if we didn’t introduce new players. That process has already started.
“We have the opportunity at a four-nation tournament in Nottingham in July to have a look at these players,” said McLeod. “We will probably take 18 there but that squad might not include some of the senior players who will come in before we go to Germany for the Champions Trophy.”

Apart from Hayward’s three goals from penalty corners, Hugo Inglis added the final touch to a stunning Archibald lead-up for the first goal. South Africa scored their first from a penalty corner but their next three were scored from open play.

In one of the tournament’s vagaries, the South Africans went away $1600 richer with two of their players scooping the man of the match and the man of steel (best defender) awards.

Embarrassed officials later admitted the call was made five minutes from the end of ordinary time with South Africa 4-3 ahead.

New Zealand’s climb in the world rankings was further helped when Argentina, ranked 14th coming into the World Cup, beat India 4-2 in the second of the day’s play-offs.

Ahead 1-0 at halftime, Argentina conceded a stroke early in the second spell but hit back quickly with three goals in as many minutes for a 4-1 lead which the hosts could only reduce by one with 21 minutes to play.

The last of three matches on the penultimate day was a triumph, in more ways than one for the Spanish.
Ahead with a field goal in the first minutes and 2-0 ahead by halftime after a second, they held on to beat South Korea 2-0 to claim fifth place and, more importantly, a place in the Champions Trophy.

With today’s finalists Australia and Germany already qualified and New Zealand there following their Champions Challenge triumph, the next three best teams here win through. Two of the spots have already gone to England and the Netherlands who play for bronze handing the third to the next-best finisher -Spain. It promises to be a great tournament with the top five World Cup teams and New Zealand in Monchengladbach.

Source Hockey New Zealand