Shoot-out defeat a blow to Olympic plans

New Zealand goalie Devon Manchester. Photo /Getty

New Zealand have lost a dramatic shootout in their quarter-final of the world league semifinal in Buenos Aires.

The game against 15th ranked Canada didn't produce a goal and amid a demonstration of goalkeeping excellence from both Black Stick Devon Manchester and Canada's David Carter, the Canadians prevailed 8-7 in the shootout which required two sudden death rounds.

The result was a serious blow for the seventh-ranked New Zealand, whose prospects of qualifying directly for the Rio Olympics next year from this tournament are now gone.

The match was evenly contested through the first three quarters. However New Zealand totally dominated the final 15 minutes but were unable to penetrate stout-hearted Canadian defence, in which Carter was outstanding.

The scores were locked 3-3 after the mandatory five rounds of penalties before players on both sides managed to have eight successive attempts stopped by Manchester and Carter.

The decisive moment came with the 28th penalty attempt, when Adam Froeze beat Manchester to initiate jubilant scenes among the Canadians.

Of the New Zealand penalty takers, veteran Ryan Archibald missed all three attempts - with one the ball crossed the goal line fractionally after the hooter sounded to signal his eight seconds to score were up.

Captain Simon Child missed with both his chances. Blair Hilton's second attempt, which would have won the game, was deflected onto the crossbar.

Midfielder Steve Edwards was easily the pick of the New Zealanders, nailing all three attempts with aplomb.

In normal time, New Zealand were unable to score with four penalty corner attempts.
They now face Australia in the Oceania series, the winner guaranteed a trip to Rio. After that, New Zealand must look at another avenue to try and qualify for Rio.

Meanwhile the women's Black Sticks were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in the first of two warmup tests for their world league semifinal starting next week.

Brooke Neal scored New Zealand's goal from a penalty corner in the final quarter.

The teams meet a second time tomorrow night at the Noordwijkse club before heading to Antwerp, Belgium for the tournament, which begins on June 20.