Hockey: NZ's hope for fifth after medal chances go west

9.00am

ATHENS - New Zealand are eyeing an invaluable consolation prize in the Olympic men's hockey tournament this week after South Africa could not quite do the right thing to keep them in the medal hunt.

Any chance of a medal has now gone for New Zealand despite back-to-back wins including a tense 2-1 victory over India yesterday, after Australia confirmed their semifinal place alongside the Netherlands from pool B.

New Zealand were banking on South Africa drawing with Australia at the Olympic Hockey Stadium but, after it was level 2-2 at halftime, Australia got up 3-2 yesterday.

The top two from each pool qualify for the medal rounds, while the next two contest fifth to eighth, for which New Zealand need just a draw with South Africa in their final pool match at 5.30pm tomorrow (NZT).

"South Africa have performed very well in this tournament and we hoped they might pull off a draw," coach Kevin Towns lamented after the team crowded around a big screen to cheer on the South Africans.

"But you've got to do it yourself and we didn't. We had the opportunity and unfortunately things didn't go as they should in the Dutch game, and we underperformed badly against Australia.

"You're masters of your own destiny and we can't rely on others to do the job for us."

New Zealand were ruing their 3-4 loss to world No 2 the Netherlands, when penalty corner ace Hayden Shaw just missed in the dying seconds.

In a hugely fluctuating tournament for the towering Canterbury defender, who suffered heat exhaustion in the 1-4 loss to Australia, he was the hero yesterday when he drilled his fourth consecutive corner attempt into the net on the final siren.

It left New Zealand third in their pool with six points, and hoping to continue their roll to claim a coveted top-six finish.

"We're not in the medal race, but provided we can keep that standard up for the next few games, we're staring down the barrel of doing the next best thing which is fifth," Towns said.

"It should mean that we get a chance to play in the top-six in the world, the Champions Trophy which will be a huge step up us. It's an opportunity to introduce some new players and start building for Beijing (in 2008)."

South Africa have tested everyone at the tournament but only have one win to New Zealand's two.

New Zealand have had the better of them in recent clashes, including a 3-2 win to seal their Olympics place in Madrid in March, and a 5-2 win at the Manchester Commonwealth Games two years ago.

South Africa will only front with 15 men to New Zealand's 16 after Iain Evans was red carded against Australia, meaning an automatic one-game suspension.

Towns felt that would make a difference in the heat, which is sure to be in the mid-30s despite the 8.30am start (local time).

India were tough opponents in the late morning heat yesterday but some solid defence led by Dion Gosling and more impressive saves from goalkeeper Paul Woolford denied them.

Phillip Burrows scored his third goal of the tournament to give New Zealand the lead in the 37th minute, but Indian veteran Dhanraj Pillay replied in his 414th match with nine minutes left.

Then came the drama, which ended with a jubilant Shaw being mobbed by his teammates and India unsuccessfully protesting the ruling that allowed Shaw his final attempt.

"I've missed that final goal twice, in the qualifying tournament then against the Netherlands, so to finally get it in was just sheer relief," a grinning Shaw said.

- NZPA