Hockey: Two-goal defeat puts heat on New Zealand

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand will need a good win over Canada tonight if they are to have any chance of reaching the semifinals of the men's World Cup qualifying tournament in Edinburgh.

The New Zealanders went down 1-3 to Spain - their first loss - in their second post-section game last night and now seem destined to play in the bottom half of the top eight play-offs with three of those four teams qualifying for next year's World Cup.

Belgium play Spain tonight, with both teams having four points from a win and a draw after Belgium had beaten Canada 1-0 yesterday . If New Zealand can score a convincing win over Canada tonight they would have a chance, provided the Belgium-Spain clash is not drawn.

New Zealand were forced to play catch-up from the fourth minute against Spain, who went ahead from a penalty corner when Fabergas beat goalkeeper Paul Woolford with a reverse stick shot.

The Spaniards continued to press and had the better of the next 20 minutes before New Zealand finished the half strongly winning two late penalty corner chances which they failed to convert.

The Spaniards went further ahead three minutes into the second spell when Amat gave Woolford no chance again with a reverse stick shot.

Fifteen minutes later Amat was sent off for a bad tackle.

Phil Burrows quickly won a penalty corner which Ryan Archibald smacked high into the Spanish goal for 2-1. That joy was short-lived, however, as Spain forced their second penalty corner eight minutes later. Quintana flicked home to regain the two-goal advantage seven minutes from the end.

In the other post-section top four pool, Argentina beat Poland 4-0 to ensure themselves of a place in the semifinals and a World Cup spot.