Commonwealth Games: Black Sticks beat Canada

Two late goals have seen the men's Black Sticks side open their Commonwealth Games campaign with a 3-1 victory over Canada in Glasgow.

In a close affair, New Zealand edged away from the eighth ranked Canadians with second half goals to Arun Panchia and Phil Burrows after it was 1-1 at halftime.

New Zealand goalie Devon Manchester made a pair of late saves to ensure the Black Sticks picked up a crucial opening win.

It was a close encounter in the first half with both sides having early chances. Number two ranked New Zealand opened the scoring just seven minutes in when Andy Hayward converted a penalty stroke.

New Zealand, ranked sixth in the world, were awarded the stroke after Canadian defender Scott Tupper blocked a crafty penalty corner with his shoulder.

The Canadians bounced back quickly though and tied the game up when Sukhpal Panesar got on the end of a well-worked cross with a reverse stick.

The game got more physical in the second half with both teams holding strong in the middle of the pitch.

New Zealand took the lead again as the game moved into the final quarter when Panchia finished off a great run into the circle by Steve Edwards. Canada referred the goal but it was turned down.

Burrows added a third from a penalty corner with six minutes to play with a deft touch deflection after first laying the ball to the edge of the circle.

Also in Pool B, England thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 6-1. New Zealand face Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday before a crucial match against England. Malaysia is the other team Pool B.