Hockey: Shaw shoots down Argentinians

Andrew Shaw

Two ripping goals from premier drag-flickman Hayden Shaw paved the way for New Zealand's 3-0 victory over Argentina on the opening day of the men's hockey World Cup in Monchengladback, Germany, today.

Shaw, known in the sport for his deadly flicks, sent Argentina defenders ducking when he rocketed two goals from penalty corners to have his side leading 2-0 at halftime.

Auckland striker Simon Child, the youngest player on the field at 18, tapped in New Zealand's third goal in the third minute of the second half to seal the Black Sticks' result.

At the other end of the field, goalkeeper Paul Woolford, playing his 100th match for Blacks Sticks, turned on a heroic effort to save at least three good chances from the seventh ranked Argentinians.

He saved two penalty corners and a close-range shot that was bound for the roof of the net.

It was Shaw's two goals however that highlighted New Zealand's (ranked 9th) first-up effort.

The first came in the 17th minute after a deliberate stick-check by Argentina after Phillip Burrows and Child tried to find their way into the net.

Shaw's rising drag-flick smashed into the net head-high as Argentina defenders in goal ducked to avoid the shot.

The second in the 23rd was similar bullet-like effort which never looked like being saved.

Both teams had three penalty corners each, with Hayden's third off-target while Woolford saved two of Argentina's effort and the other went wide.

"It was good to see Hayden Shaw step up and do what we know he can do," New Zealand coach Kevin Towns said.

"He really took a lot of pressure off the team."

The Black Sticks had several chances for field goals in the second half, the best being two powerful shots from Bevan Hari and one from Burrows -- all saved by Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi.

Towns said those attempts were the result the confidence provided by Shaw's ruthless but efficient goals.

"They gained confidence as the game went on," he said.

The match was less than three minutes old when Argentina had their first chance but Woolford made an easy glove save from Lucas Vilab's reverse stick.

Half chances and encouraging moves by Argentina were then covered by New Zealand before the Black Sticks stole the advantage midway through the half.

Against the general trend of play Shaw scored and repeated the dose six minutes later with Argentina's defence again unable to contain the precisely placed shot.

Not surprisingly, the goals boosted New Zealand's confidence and they went into halftime in control of the match.

Blair Hopping intercepted an attempted cross field pass near the circle in the third minute before off-loading to Simon Child in scoring range.

Child's first effort was saved by Vivaldi but the 18-year-old pounced on the rebound from close range to give the Black Sticks a 3-0 lead.

Two of Argentina's best chances to respond came 20 minutes from fulltime but Woolford cleared both the penalty corners.

New Zealand split the Argentina defence down the right. First Burrows had his shot blocked and then Bryce Collins saw his effort receive similar treatment.

New Zealand's next pool A game is against fifth ranked Pakistan early on Saturday (NZ time).

In a pool B match Germany beat India 3-2.

New Zealand 3 (Hayden Shaw 2, Simon Child)
Argentina 0

Halftime: 2-0.

- NZPA