Hockey: Penalty call ends NZ hopes

New Zealand were eliminated from medals contention at the Champions Trophy tournament in controversial circumstances in Lahore, Pakistan, yesterday.

New Zealand were 1-0 up over India with seven minutes remaining in their final round robin match when they were on the receiving end of a debatable decision from Pakistani umpire Mohammad Faizi.

Faizi effectively gift wrapped India a 1-1 draw - enough to drop New Zealand to a playoff for fifth on Sunday against Germany and push India into the playoffs - when he penalised Wayne McIndoe for checking an opponent with his stick inside the New Zealand circle.

McIndoe appeared to be playing the ball and the New Zealanders protested in vain before Arjun Halappa converted the penalty stroke into a goal.

Faizi's decision rankled with the New Zealanders well after the final whistle when captain Simon Towns was seen remonstrating with the official.

New Zealand needed to beat India - and hope the Netherlands beat Germany in today's late match - to finish in the top four of the six-nation tournament and qualify for next year's event in India.

They appeared well on the way of reaching that goal when Darren Smith tucked the ball into the goal in the 56th minute after New Zealand forced the sixth of their seven penalty corners.

New Zealand forced three penalty corners to India's one in the opening 35 minutes but still changed ends on even terms after their lack of finishing was again exposed.

Bevan Hari squandered the first opportunity in the second minute when he found himself in space inside the circle only to mishit his attempted backhand shot.

Goalkeeper Paul Woolford was called on in the middle stages of the half to deny firstly a backhand shot from Sandeep Michael and then from a penalty corner, flung out his arm to deflect a goalbound drag flick.

The New Zealanders had much the better of the latter stages of the half but penalty corners in their favour went unrewarded.

- NZPA