Hockey: Black Sticks book trip to Athens

8.45pm

The New Zealand women's hockey team confirmed their trip to the Athens Olympics tonight after drawing 1-1 with Germany in their qualifying match in Auckland.

Tonight's results saw the Black Sticks and Germany end round robin play on eight points, but the hosts claimed the top honours with a greater goal differential. The top two teams from both pools automatically qualify for the Olympic Games in August.

The New Zealand women join the men, who qualified in Madrid earlier this month.

Heading into the final pool match at Lloyd Elsmore Park, the Black Sticks could afford to lose by up to four goals and still make the trip to Greece after Great Britain beat Ireland 2-0 earlier today.

In the tournament's final pool match the Black Sticks dominated possession and field position for the first 20 minutes but vigorous German defence kept the New Zealand strikers at bay.

The hosts' best chance of scoring came in the 34th minute after a Kayla Sharland deflection was well saved by German goal keeper Julia Zwehl.

Immediately after the New Zealand corner Germany regained possession and moved the ball quickly upfield through Fanny Rinne who fed Heike Latzsch to slot the first goal past Black Sticks keeper Helen Clarke.

New Zealand cracked into the second half with a series of attacking raids, but Germany replied with their own surges, drawing some good saves from Clarke.

The Black Sticks finally wiped the one-goal deficit in the 55th minute after Lisa Walton latched onto a Muirhead free hit into the circle.

With 15 minutes remaining and an Olympic berth all but secured for both teams, the game slumped into a defensive mode with little attacking play from both sides in the closing moments.

Tonight's result means New Zealand will play Spain in a crossover match on Friday. Spain finished second in pool B after losing 0-3 to the United States today.

- NZPA