New Zealand stun Pakistan 7-1 in hockey semi-final
Pat Rowley
New Zealand shocked former Olympic and World Cup champions Pakistan 7-1 in the Commonwealth Games men's hockey semi-finals on Friday to set up a trans-Tasman final with holders Australia.
Australia defeated South Africa 3-1 in their semi-final, having also beaten them in the group round. The World Cup silver medallists should go into Sunday's final with confidence having beaten New Zealand 6-1 in the first men's match of the Games.
Australia coach Barry Dancer said New Zealand would make the game very difficult for his side.
Pakistan's Muhammed Nadeem (top) crahes into New Zealand's Phillip Burrows.
|
"They showed how well they can play in the first 40 minutes of the first game with us and again today. We should learn after today's game with South Africa to value the ball more," Dancer said.
New Zealand's first win over Pakistan was also the first time they had scored more than three goals against the former champions.
Pakistan, who had not conceded a goal before the semi-final, found themselves a goal down in 50 seconds. A move started in the New Zealanders' half of the field was finished off by Umesh Parag, who jinked past the last Pakistan defender and rifled in a head high shot.
PROBLEMS
New Zealand, with clever use of space, continued to cause Pakistan problems and were 3-0 ahead in the 21st minute from their second penalty corner. A switch saw Philip Burrows score what proved to be the first of a personal tally of four.
Pakistan pulled a goal back nine minutes after the break with a close range shot by Nadeem, before New Zealand restored a three goal lead with a second by Burrows from a corner variation.
Hayden Shaw, on 11 goals the tournament's top scorer, scored the fifth before Burrows added the final two.
Australia had South Africa under a lot of pressure from the start and Matt Smith put them ahead from a 12th minute penalty corner.
Against the run of play, Justin King equalised in the 31st minute. Then defender Bevan George joined an attack and just managed to get a touch on a long ball into the circle to give Australia a 45th minute lead before Michael McCann settled the result with their third goal after a mis-hit South African free hit.
