Hockey: Two wins from Rio ticket

From left, Hugo Inglis, George Muir and Simon Child of New Zealand celebrate a goal during the 3-3 draw with Korea in Buenos Aires. Photo / Hernan Barrios

New Zealand are two wins away from securing a place at the Rio Olympics men's hockey programme.

The Black Sticks, ranked seventh in the world, will play Canada in their quarter-final at the World League semifinal in Buenos Aires tomorrow morning, after finishing second in their pool behind world No 2 the Netherlands.

A 3-3 draw with South Korea in their final pool game - the Koreans equalised with a rasping penalty corner goal from Hyunwoo Nam two minutes from time - left New Zealand with a two-win, two-draw record out of pool play.

"In patches we've probably played to our potential but it's getting that consistency through all four quarters of the game which we haven't had yet," attacker Hugo Inglis said yesterday.

Inglis scored New Zealand's first goal yesterday with a nifty solo run through the South Korean defence, as New Zealand sought to recover from a 2-0 deficit after the first quarter.

He then produced a slick piece of interpassing with captain Simon Child for the third goal, scored by Child, which had New Zealand in front until the death.

"We are a team that look to improve constantly so that was probably the most frustrating thing," Inglis said of the Korean late equaliser.

"When we were in front we weren't able to close it out, and when it comes to the quarter-finals that'll be a crucial factor."

Canada, ranked 15th, were dumped 9-0 by formidable Germany yesterday, which dropped them into New Zealand's path, once hosts Argentina beat Spain 1-0.

That suggests the Black Sticks should be relatively untroubled to advance to the last four. New Zealand beat them 4-0 in a series in New Zealand late last year and cleaned them up 5-0 at the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia in April.

Finish in the top three and New Zealand are guaranteed a trip to Rio; finish fourth and they still have work to do but are likely to get invited on the back of their world ranking and once the various confederation spots are taken up.

Inglis fancies taking route one to Rio.

"Exactly right. It'd be great to win the quarter and from there win the semifinal so it's all done and dusted and the last game is a bonus," he said.

He's happy with his own game, after a sluggish start to the tournament.

"It's nice to have a good game and get a bit of confidence going."