NZ and China win again in 2010 World Cup Qualifier

China and New Zealand won their 3rd game in a row and dominate this 2nd 2010 World Cup Qualifier. Only malaysia can catch the pair but they must win their last two games while the other two must lose both theirs.

Austria 2 v 3 Scotland HT 1-0 | 2009-11-10 14:00
No Venue | 2010 Men's World Cup Qualifier (National Mens) | Match Report(s)

Wales 1 v 2 China HT 0-0 | 2009-11-10 16:00
No Venue | 2010 Men's World Cup Qualifier (National Mens) | Match Report(s)

New Zealand 4 v 2 Malaysia HT 2-1 | 2009-11-10 18:00
No Venue | 2010 Men's World Cup Qualifier (National Mens) | Match Report(s)

The Black Sticks confirmed their tournament favouritism today in Invercargill at the BDO Men’s World Cup Qualifier, responding well to a stiff challenge from Malaysia to win 4- 2.

New Zealand leads the points table with three wins from three matches, on equal points with China, but well ahead on goal difference.

Black Sticks Coach Shane McLeod was pleased with how his side responded to the increased pressure when Malaysia equalised 2-2 in the 44th minute of the game.

“For a short time it did feel like we might not have both hands on it, so I was pleased with how we responded and showed we really want it. Malaysia are a tenacious team,” he said.

New Zealand opened the match by continuing their solid penalty corner record, with Ryan Archibald getting a touch on an Andy Hayward drag flick in the sixth minute.

Simon Child put a beautiful long ball into the circle for Phil Burrows to deflect home from very little space four minutes later.

Malaysia responded with a corner conversion of their own when Amin Rahim swept a ball to Azlan Misron on the left post five minutes before half time for NZ to go into the break 2-1 up.

In the second half Faizal Saari equalised from the field to set the Malaysians alight in the 44th minute.

The Black Sticks moved back into the lead in the 52nd minute when Hayden Shaw, playing his first game of the tournament, converted a penalty corner. In the 62nd minute Burrows returned the favour to Child who earlier sent him up for Burrows’ first goal, by putting a beautiful ball through for Child to slide on to and score.

McLeod said the side’s next match against China would be a good gauge of where the Chinese are really at. He was surprised they had not put away the Europeans teams more easily.

Scotland recorded their first win in a thrilling comeback against Austria. Down 2-1 with 11 minutes to play, Scotland rallied with a field goal to Kenneth Bain in the 61st minute to equalise followed by a penalty corner conversion from the stick of Mark Ralph with four minutes from the final whistle.

A sensational 57th minute goal by Yubo Na sealed China’s third straight win, over Wales today. Na created space for himself with a deft move and nailed a solid forehand shot from the top of the circle.

Scorers

New Zealand (Ryan Archibald, Phil Burrows, Hayden Shaw, Simon Child) Malaysia (2 (Faizal Saari, Azlan Misron) H:T 2-1 NZ.
China 2 (Yixian Liu, Yubo Na) Wales 1 (Andrew Cornick) H:T 0-0
Scotland 3 Ross Stott, Mark Ralph, Kenneth Bain Austria 2 Peter Proksch, Michael Korper H:T 1-0 Austria.