Hockey: NZ earn playoff for fifth

7.15am - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - New Zealand are one step away from their biggest moment in men's hockey since 1982 after they toppled Korea 4-3 in another Olympics nailbiter here today.

A brilliant winner with 90 seconds left from striker Phillip Burrows sealed New Zealand's fourth straight win at the tournament and a playoff for fifth on Friday.

Despite missing a medal, it all but guaranteed them a place in the Champions Trophy.

They needed Pakistan as hosts of the November tournament, to beat India in the following match at the Helleniko Olympic Complex and the Pakistanis duly obliged 3-0.

Pakistan as hosts are guaranteed entry to the tournament, leaving five spare places in the elite top-six, meaning New Zealand would have needed to beat India if they had met in the playoff for fifth.

The last time New Zealand -- ranked 11th going into these Olympics -- were a top-six side was 22 years ago.

Today's match was headed for extra time when Burrows levelled the scores 3-3 from a Bevan Hari cross with eight minutes left.

But as the clock wound down, one last push saw defender Hayden Shaw smash one into the circle from a free hit, and Burrows planted his stick and coolly deflected it into the top of the net for his hat-trick.

New Zealand's defence then held on, signalling wild celebrations akin to the women's side yesterday when they sealed their Champions Trophy place, also with a win over Korea.

Burrows admitted the team got out of jail.

"We pretty much played shithouse for 65 minutes and pretty well for five. We put four goals in, I don't know how," he said.

"To get us in the top-six, if Pakistan win tonight, is just fantastic."

Burrows' hat-trick brought his tournament tally to seven, ahead of penalty corner whiz Hayden Shaw's six.

The other goal was scored by Wayne McIndoe, playing his 100th international, from a penalty corner in the 27th minute when Shaw was off the field.

- NZPA