Hockey: Critical time has come for NZ team

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand are on the wrong side of a divide in their pool at the men's World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

They must take at least a point - preferably three - from tonight's game against Pakistan to entertain any realistic hope of making the top four.

The top-seeded teams in pool A - the Netherlands, Spain, Pakistan and Germany - have won two-from-two and remain on course for a top-four finish and with it the chance of reaching the top-eight play-offs.

New Zealand, one of four teams who have no points, paid dearly for their 3-1 loss to Spain and had an extensive debrief yesterday, a rest day.

"Sure, there was some soul-searching," said New Zealand coach Kevin Towns.

"It was a game we could have won but we got ourselves under a bit of pressure. The players started thinking about the score rather than what they had to do."

New Zealand took the lead when Umesh Parag scored from a free-hit outside the circle.

They allowed the Spaniards back to 1-1 right on halftime when they conceded what Towns called a "soft" penalty corner which Xavier Ribas flicked home well.

A similar penalty corner in the 53rd minute gave Spain the lead through Xavier Arana and they made certain of victory with a Juan Escarre field goal squeezed just inside the post three minutes from the end.

In a game of some controversial decisions - Towns was frustrated by the Spaniards' continual stick interference and their time-wasting - New Zealand defender Hayden Shaw was sent off for contesting a high ball.

"During the time he was off we won five penalty corners," said Towns. "But with Shaw off we were without the player we needed.

"Now we have to look forward. We broke the Spanish down well and must do the same against Pakistan [who have beaten South Africa 5-0 and Belgium 2-1].

"We must eliminate the little mistakes and lapses in concentration."

New Zealand are the 16th, and lowest-ranked, team at the World Cup.