New Zealand Men run riot over Brazil at Rio Olympics

The New Zealand Men have recorded an emphatic 9-0 victory over home side Brazil in their fourth pool match at the Rio Olympic Games.

The Kiwis were dominant from start to finish, pouring on five goals in the first half and another four in the second.

Striker Nick Wilson was in devastating form with four goals while Shay Neal, Simon Child, Kane Russell, Stephen Jenness and Nic Woods added to the tally.

The crucial result keeps New Zealand in contention for the quarter finals, ahead of their final pool game against Belgium at 9:00am on Saturday, with live coverage on SKY Sport 3.

Head coach Colin Batch said it was pleasing to come and get the result required to stay in the hunt at the Olympics.

"Were very pleased with the win, it was a crucial match that we needed three points from so this puts us back in the tournament," he said.

"We didnt set ourselves a margin but it was nice to win by nine, that could prove important if goal differential comes into play."

New Zealand opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Wilson ran onto an aerial defensive deflection into the circle and calmly guided the ball past the goalkeeper.

Four minutes later it was Wilson on the score sheet again after receiving a nice pass at the top of the circle from Hugo Inglis and smashing home on his forehand.

The Kiwis went out by three goals in the 20th minute with a perfect crash ball across the face of goal from Simon Child finding Shay Neal at fill dive to deflect in on his reverse stick.

Child scored one of his own five minutes out from halftime with a solo run into the circle before hammering past the keeper on the half volley.

Defender Kane Russell sent New Zealand into the break with a 5-0 lead after rocketing a drag flick into the side of the net from his sides second penalty corner of the game.

The Kiwis kept all the momentum after the break and Wilson picked up another two goals in the 33rd and 40th minutes to extend his personal tally to four.

Capital striker Stephen Jenness scored New Zealands ninth goal just out from three quarter time before Nic Woods delivered the final blow with a powerful drag flick from a 58th minute penalty corner.

With the Men looking to grab another win against Belgium, the Kiwi Women face a huge battle against world number one the Netherlands in their next match at 2:00am Saturday, live on SKY Rio Pop-Up 5.

New Zealand 9: (Nick Wilson 4, Shay Neal, Simon Child, Kane Russell, Stephen Jenness, Nic Woods)

Brazil 0

Halftime: New Zealand 5-0





- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Hockey NZ