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The Black Sticks men are through to the semifinals of the Nations Cup after a commanding 5-1 win over Malaysia in Cape Town yesterday.
A win guaranteed a place in the final four, and the Black Sticks delivered in style while also celebrating two milestones.
Before the opening whistle, Aidan Sarikaya was recognised for playing his 100th international, while Charlie Morrison celebrated his 50th appearance in black.
The New Zealanders controlled the opening quarter, dominating possession and territory and making 10 circle entries while not allowing Malaysia a single entry into their defensive circle.
Despite the control and several promising opportunities, the scores remained locked at 0-0 after the first 15 minutes.
The breakthrough came in the second quarter and the goals quickly followed.
Kane Russell opened the scoring with a trademark penalty corner flick that was too powerful and accurate for the Malaysian goalkeeper.
Soon after, he doubled both his tally and New Zealand’s lead with another clinical drag flick.
Russell’s double moved him to 99 international goals.
Dylan Thomas then got in on the action.
A loose ball fell kindly inside the circle and Thomas reacted quickest, using his skill to whip the ball around the goalkeeper and into the net to give New Zealand a 3-0 halftime lead.
Their fourth goal came through Isaac Houlbrooke after a flowing team move featuring a series of classy connections. Houlbrooke finished the move in style, smashing the ball into the bottom corner to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Black Sticks finished the job in the final quarter.
Thomas produced a moment of brilliance down the baseline, eliminating defenders before delivering a perfect pass across the face of goal for Jonty Elmes to tap home at the far post.
Malaysia managed to pull one goal back late, but the damage had already been done.
The result means the Black Sticks remain undefeated and sit top of Pool A with nine points from three games, securing their place in the semifinals as they chase a third consecutive Nations Cup title.
• New Zealand came from behind to beat Chile 3-2 on Tuesday night to secure their place in the semifinals of the women’s Nations Cup in Auckland.
Chile led 1-0 at halftime and might have led by more had Grace O’Hanlon not produced a series of outstanding saves, including several penalty corner stops.
The Black Sticks women finally broke through early in the third quarter. After Kaitlin Cotter’s drag flick earned a penalty stroke, captain Olivia Shannon calmly converted to level the scores at 1-1.
Shannon helped create another penalty corner opportunity, and after a reset on the set piece, Holly Pearson scored from a deft penalty corner deflection to fire New Zealand into the lead.
Chile responded quickly to make it 2-2, setting up an exciting final quarter.
The decisive moment came with five minutes remaining. After Chile were reduced to 10 players following a yellow card, the Black Sticks capitalised through Josephine Murray, who finished clinically from a penalty corner breakdown, pouncing on a loose ball to put New Zealand ahead 3-2.
The defence held firm in the closing stages as the Black Sticks secured a second straight victory and officially booked their place in the Nations Cup semifinals. — Allied Media