Hockey: Black Sticks scrape home against Canada

NEW DELHI - From the worst possible nightmare - a goal down after 38secs - New Zealand battled back to eventually beat Canada 3-2 and kick-start their World Cup hockey campaign.

But it was far from convincing.

A combination of first game nerves, the heat and a changed line-up following Simon Child's late withdrawal made life difficult for Shane McLeod's Black Sticks who twice had to come from behind to reach 2-2 before a well-taken late Ryan Archibald goal got them home.

It was a spirited effort from the plucky Canadians who are three below New Zealand on the latest world rankings.

"It is always difficult playing catch-up," said McLeod. "Especially for us being without Simon Child. When we have him we have three strong forwards and much of our game plan revolves around that. Losing him has certainly affected us."

From the time New Zealand goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex was left stranded when possession was turned over, and Mark Pearson swooped to snatch Canada's surprise early lead, New Zealand had to regroup.

They got back to 1-1 in the 12th minute when Priyesh Bhana, the late call-up following Child's withdrawal, fired in a shot which goalkeeper Matthew Peck blocked.

The ball rebounded to Bhana who by then was in a heap on the ground from where, somehow, he got his stick to the loose ball and fired home.

But within 10 minutes it was back to catch-up as the defence were caught pushing forward leaving a big hole for Philip Wright to charge through.

His first shot was blocked by Pontifex but he gave the goalkeeper no chance with his second chance off the rebound.

New Zealand continued to give up possession too easily in the opening minutes of the second spell but eventually, in the 45th minute, claimed the first penalty corner of the match.

From a variation, Andy Hayward played the ball to Nick Haig who provided the precious second touch for 2-2.

Spurred by that, and sensing the Canadians were tiring, New Zealand claimed a decent share of possession but it was not until there was less than four minutes to play that they finally went ahead.

Good build-up started and finished by Ryan Archibald produced the third desperately needed goal and three precious points.

"If we had lost that we would, in all probability, been out of it," said McLeod. "At this level and against the teams we still have to play, winning four games would have been nigh on impossible."

Burrows too was happy to pocket the points but conceded it was far from a complete performance.

"I don't think we played particularly well today," said Burrows. "The heat was a factor and so to it being our first game of the tournament. Having said that, it was great to win."

Attention now turns to the Dutch tomorrow night. The Black Sticks will need a big step up if they are to fulfil their hoped-for four- or six-point haul from their opening two matches.

A 2-2 draw between favourites Germany and the lively Koreans in the second of the group A matches was welcomed by the New Zealand camp.

Korea stunned the world champions when they scored inside three minutes from a penalty corner. Hye Sung Hyun's early strike was followed 12 minutes later by Nam Yong Lee's goal from open play.

Trailing 0-2 at halftime Germany eventually clawed their way back with goals eight minutes apart from Florian Fuchs, 18 and playing just his eighth international, and Benjamin Wess, in the 59th minute.

The Netherlands turned in one of the most impressive games so far in beating Argentina 3-0 in the late game.

Two penalty corner strikes in the first half and one in the second from drag flick expert Taeke Taekema, who played NHL for Canterbury a few years ago, earned the Dutch their points and the lead in group A on goal difference from New Zealand.

- NZPA