Hockey: Black Sticks hold off late charge from Japan to stay unbeaten

New Zealand held off a late charge from Japan to remain unbeaten with a 4-2 victory at the men's World Cup qualifying tournament in China yesterday.

After leading 4-0 with 20 minutes remaining, New Zealand were guilty of taking the foot off the pedal as Japan stormed back in the final quarter with two goals within three minutes.

Some staunch defence and a crucial late save from goalkeeper Paul Woolford was enough to avert New Zealand's heart flutters.

New Zealand, ranked ninth in the world, cruised past China 4-0 in their opening match on Wednesday.

Striker Bevan Hari made a successful return yesterday after missing the China match with a sprained ankle, scoring a 30th minute goal when he latched on to a parried long corner from Hayden Shaw.

New Zealand's other goalscorers were Darren Smith, captain Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrows who scored his third in two games.

Archibald was one of New Zealand's standouts, marshalling attacks expertly from centre half, while Shaw was a rock at the back as 14th-ranked Japan struggled to convert their first half attacking raids.

As they did on Wednesday, New Zealand took charge with an early goal as Smith finished off a prolonged New Zealand attack with an accurate drag push which deflected off a defender's stick.

Hari made it 2-0 when he pounced on loose ball in the penalty area just before the break.

Two goals in four minutes early in the second half and New Zealand had the match at their mercy but 10 minutes from fulltime Japan stormed back.

New Zealand's next match is against France tomorrow.

- NZPA