Pool B match between close rivals heading for a draw before Burrow’s late strike
This was a close encounter between the sixth and seventh seeds respectively and it played out as such. New Zealand took an early lead through Steve Edwards (1′), but the closely-fought contest was not decided until the final minute of the game, when one of the Black Sticks most experienced players, Phil Burrows, took his chance in front of goal.
The first goal, which was scored just 11 seconds into the game, came when Marcus Child played the ball into the Korea circle and Edwards controlled it as it bounced before firing it home. Korea, driven on by their captain Lee Seungil, fought back but could find no way past the solid New Zealand defence. The best chance for Korea came in the middle of the first half when Jang Jonghyun was denied an equaliser by the Black Sticks goalkeeper Devon Manchester.
Korea came out hard in the second half but again they were faced by a wall of determined New Zealand defence. With both teams playing a similar style of hockey – physical and fast-moving – neither side were able to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities. Marcus Child continued to drive up the right side of the pitch but could not get his crosses into the circle, while Korea’s main attacking move was the aerial out of defence to the forwards.
The potential for a Korea breakthrough came following a sustained attack on the Black Sticks goal. Oh Daekeun was bundled over on route to goal and Jang Jonghyun stepped up to take the subsequent penalty corner. His shot went beyond the out-stretched arm of Manchester but rifled against the cross bar and bounced harmlessly away.
Having escaped once, New Zealand continued to press high up the pitch but with just four six minutes to go, Korea scored through Kim Seongkyu (64′). The game was not over yet however, and this third pool B match took another dramatic turn when Burrows (69′) followed up on a Kane Russell penalty corner to re-establish the Black Sticks lead.
While acknowledging that the game had not been a “pretty one”, Burrows said: “Look, there are some games you just have to grind out. I was mighty relieved to score the winner, but that was just a hard, wearing game out there. Korea are a tough bunch to play against. We are really pleased to have got three points on the board and we are looking forward to the next game now.”
Official Match Report (PDF)