New Zealand manages a draw against the Netherlands in the FIH Champions Trophy
Following a hard fought battle, the Black Sticks managed a draw against the Netherlands in the ongoing Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy, that took place at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium, in Auckland, New Zealand, on December 06.
By drawing the game, the Black Sticks secured a berth among the top four teams that will play the final knockout round.
New Zealand, the host team, lost to Germany in the first game while it bounced back and defeated South Korea in the second fixture of the tournament.
The third game between New Zealand and the Netherlands ended in a three-all draw.
The Dutch team, on the other hand, won the previous two games of the event. It outplayed South Korea in the maiden competition, while edging past Germany in the next encounter.
Dean Couzins, the Black Sticks skipper, while speaking to the media, said that they only required a draw to book a place among the top four teams.
He further observed, “You’ve just got to pick your spot, push it hard and hope for the best, and today my best was good enough. That was certainly the loudest crowd I’ve played in front of in New Zealand”.
Couzins, who levelled the game through a penalty stroke in the waning minutes, stated that his tying goal spread joy on the faces of the spectators sitting in the ground or before the television screens.
Both, the Black Sticks and the Netherlands, exchanged plenty of chances against each other in the early part of the game. However, the home side failed to capitalise on the opportunities.
The Dutch team came into action in the dying minutes of the first round, acquiring a couple of goals in a very short span of time.
Billy Bakker and his teammate, Jeroen Hertzberger, notched one goal apiece, putting the Netherlands ahead of New Zealand by 2-0.
In the second half of play, Taeke Taekema converted a short corner in the 48th minute mark, stretching the lead for the Netherlands up to three.
But it was not the end of the game, as the Black Sticks started playing aggressively. The troika of Blair Hilton, Phil Burrows and Dean Couzins scored one goal each in the 53rd, 55th and 66th minutes, respectively, for New
Zealand, tying the knots at three-all.
The crucial game of the Champions Trophy between New Zealand and the Netherlands ended in a three-all draw.
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