KEY POINTS:
New Zealand hopes of a clean sweep in their four-test series with Chile were dashed in a sometimes testy encounter at Pukekohe last night.
Down 1-2 at halftime, the visitors stormed home to win 3-2 on the back of a contentious 55th minute goal which sparked some heated exchanges in the remaining minutes but no cards from the umpires.
The South Americans began strongly and were rewarded in the ninth minute when, from their only penalty corner of the opening spell, Esteban Krainz beat Black Sticks goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex with a well-angled drag flick.
Down but far from out, the home side continued to press but it was not until the 20th minute that they got back to 1-1 when experienced striker Phil Burrows whipped home a stunning reverse stick shot.
Four minutes from the break, and - like Chile - from their only penalty corner of the opening 35 minutes, Ben Collier pulled the ball out and Andy Hayward, in the absence of Hayden Shaw, drag-flicked home for 2-1.
The South Americans, ranked 20th in the world, continued to make life difficult for the top 10 ranked home team with their spoiling, tight game.
The Black Sticks again struggled for midfield dominance with possession often lost as players tried to dribble their way out of trouble.
Three minutes into the second spell Chile equalised when Thomas Kannegiesser scored from a penalty corner variation.
They sealed their victory 16 minutes later when Thomas Krussig scored, with the New Zealand players protesting the ball had hit his foot in trapping it at the top of the circle before firing home.
Their claims fell on deaf ears but sparked some heated exchanges, with visitors angering the home team with some dubious back-tackling.
There was further dismay for the Black Sticks when Dean Couzins failed to beat the Chilean goalkeeper with a weak effort after the home side had been awarded a penalty stroke following a penalty corner which took a Chilean on the body.
Determined not to take risks with key defender Blair Hopping, coach Shane McLeod left him out of the 16-man roster for the third time in the series.
Hopping was joined on the sideline by second goalkeeper Paul Woolford and double-centurion Bevan Hari who, in the second test in Whangarei last Saturday, joined Umesh Parag, Simon Towns and Darren Smith as the only New Zealanders to play 200 or more internationals.
There is no rest for the Chileans. They are back at Pukekohe tonight (6.30pm) to play Japan, who begin their three-test series with the Black Sticks at the same ground tomorrow night.
