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| September 09, 2006 | Saturday | Sha'aban 15, 1427 |
New Zealand hold Pakistan to 4-4 draw
MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany), Sept 8: New Zealand challenged for a semi- finals berth by drawing 4-4 with Pakistan in Pool `A’ of World Cup on Friday. With four points each from two matches, Pakistan and New Zealand are vying with Spain and Australia to secure a semi-final berth from Pool `A’.
“Eight goals in one match is good for the spectators but not so good if we do not win,” said Shahnaz Sheikh, Pakistan's coach.
“Both teams did an excellent job playing back to back matches inside 24 hours and it is a fact that most teams lose when they play the second match back to back,” Sheikh added.
“It was disappointing from New Zealand's point of view not to win as we had marked this as a must win' match for us to get into the medal round,” said Kevin Towns, New Zealand's coach.
“We had opportunities to put the game away in the last 15 minutes and we didn't do it,” said Towns.
“I have great respect for Pakistan as they let you play hockey and there is a lot of space out there when we play them,” said Ryan Archibald, New Zealand's captain.
“Their weakness is in their overall structure as a unit which is where we have the advantage as we are well organised,” Archibald added.
The lead changed four times as three penalty strokes were awarded and converted.
Pakistan and New Zealand traded penalty strokes in the first 15 minutes.
Shakeel Abbasi flicked high to the right and Dean Couzins low to the left.
Pakistan played catch-up after New Zealand equalised.
New Zealand went ahead 2-1 with Blair Hopping's tip-in of Hayden Shaw's second penalty corner and Pakistan equalised through Muhammad Zubair's field goal.
New Zealand converted a second stroke half a minute after the break in controversial circumstances as Pakistan's goalkeeper claimed he was not ready when Dean Couzins' stroke flew into the middle of the net.
Pakistan caught up again to 3-3 with Rehan Butt's field goal between the pads of New Zealand's goalkeeper Paul Woodford.
New Zealand took the lead 4-3 from Hayden Shaw's sizzling penalty corner flick into the top left of goal and Pakistan caught up again to 4-4 when Muhammad Zubair scored a second field goal.
Sohail Abbas stepped up to convert Pakistan's fourth penalty corner after the final hooted but Paul Woodford made the save to limit Pakistan to one point from the match.
Earlier on Thursday, Spain beat Olympic champions Australia 3-1, while the Netherlands battled to beat South Africa 2-0.
Spain displayed an imaginative attack against Australia with goals from Eduard Tubau in the eighth minute, Pol Amat in the 11th, and Xavi Ribas in the 41st.
It was the third time in a month Australia lost to the European champion.
Tubau hit into a crowd, collected the deflected ball and slapped it in at the right post. Amat redirected a free hit from the left into the middle of the net, and Ribas scored on a penalty corner.
Troy Elder, on a 47th-minute penalty corner, picked up a consolation goal for Australia. Twice the team hit posts.
''I think with an ounce of luck those posts may have been in and we may have won,'' Australian coach Barry Dancer said. ''One loss is not going to lose a World Cup,'' he added.
The Netherlands, the Olympic silver medalist, won despite two big chances by South Africa at the 50-minute mark — on a flick by captain Bruce Jacobs deflected over the crossbar.
The Dutch, upset 3-2 by South Korea on Wednesday, secured victory with a goal from Geert-Jan Derikx with five minutes left. In the 15th, Taeke Taekema's put them ahead.
Saturday’s fixtures (all times in PST):
South Africa v India 4.00pm; Germany v the Netherlands at 6.15pm; Japan v New Zealand at 8.30pm; Argentina v Australia at 10.30pm.—Agencies
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