The New Zealand men’s hockey team got their Olympic campaign back on track with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Spain early today.
After their disappointing 3-2 defeat by India in their opening match, the New Zealanders were desperate to post a win on the board.
The Spanish match was a physical, see-sawing encounter between two committed teams.
New Zealand led 2-1 at halftime, after a goal by Stephen Jenness and a penalty corner by Blair Tarrant. But Spain came out firing in the third quarter and dominated possession, eventually converting two penalty corners to take a 3-2 lead into the final quarter.
Then it was New Zealand’s turn. Kane Russell smashed a penalty corner home in the 48th minute and Jake Smith worked a bit of magic in the circle to score with just three minutes remaining.
There was just time for two Spanish penalty corners – and some heart flutters among New Zealand fans – before the final whistle.
Spain could field slightly aggrieved – they had 12 shots at goal to New Zealand’s eight, and had 55 percent of possession, but New Zealand clung to them tenaciously and took their chances.
New Zealand’s next match is against Japan on Tuesday.