April 24, 2006	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1427

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CHANGZHOU (China), April 23: New Zealand beat South Korea 4-1 in the final and Japan claimed the last berth in the qualifying tournament for the men's field hockey World Cup on Sunday.

Japan defeated France 2-1 on a pair of goals by captain Kazuyuki Ozawa to claim the 12th spot in the World Cup in September in Moenchengladbach, Germany.

In the final, New Zealand scored three first-half goals, two to Lloyd Stephenson.

Bevan Hari earned a turnover in a Korean corner, and slick passing gave Stephenson an easy tap-in in the 17th minute.

Eight minutes later, Phillip Burrows moved up the middle and fed Simon Child, who made a diving shot. After Stephenson was taken out near the goal, he fired in the penalty shot moments before halftime.

South Korea finally scored through Seong Jung Kang off a penalty corner in the 57th but New Zealand made it 4-1 seconds before the end on a goal by Hari.

Japan beat France 5-3 on Wednesday, and took hold of their nerves sooner than France on Sunday to score the opener to Ozawa in the 27th minute for the halftime lead.

Thomas Raisin leveled for France eight minutes after the break, but Ozawa claimed the winner, a deflection off a defender's stick in the 57th.

In the playoff for third, England beat Pakistan 3-1.

The top four and Japan qualified for the World Cup from Sept 6-17, and join host Germany, Olympic champions Australia, and India, Argentina, the Netherlands, Spain and South Africa. —AP