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New Zealand's Gemma Flynn fights for the ball with Germany's Natascha Keller (L) during their Women's group B hockey match at Riverbank Arena - Source: Reuters
The Black Sticks women have survived a German onslaught to
clinch a spot in the London Olympics hockey semi-finals.
New Zealand scrambled to a 0-0 draw on Monday to ensure they finish
second in their pool.
Top spot, and the other qualifying berth, will be decided by the
match between world champions Argentina and Australia later in the
day, with Argentina needing just a draw, while the Hockeyroos have
to win.
The Germans, the 2004 Olympic champions and who at No.3 are ranked
three places above the New Zealand, needed victory by three goals
at the Riverbank Arena to keep their medal hopes alive and they
chased the game.
"It is a huge result," head coach Mark Hager said. "I don't think anyone expected us to make the semis, I think we were always possibly seen as a threat. We started the tournament on a roll and that has continued."
Kayla Sharland said to get through to the semi-finals means so much, especially considering how far they have come since their disappointing Olympic campaign at Beijing Olympics four years ago where they finished last.
We were nervous coming into this game, we knew what it meant. It is a special group and we have played hard throughout this tournament and that last ten minutes was no different. We just needed to chase, chase, chase and work together as a unit and thats what we did, Sharland added.
New Zealand keeper Bianca Russell had to make a swag of saves as the Black Sticks found it difficult to keep possession.
Germany, wearing all black to the Blacks Sticks' all white, twice got the ball into the net but were denied both times by the video umpire.
It was New Zealand who started the better and they almost got on the board in the very first minute.
Anita Punt showed typical speed to get to the baseline, but neither Katie Glynn nor Charlotte Harrison could get good contact to her cross.
As the match developed into an end-to-end contest, Glynn was denied by a fine save by German keeper Yvonne Frank.
From there Germany started to dominate, but found Russell a big obstacle.
Two minutes from half-time, they managed to got the ball into the net, with Maike Stoeckel adamant she got the faintest touch to a free hit fired into the circle.
After a video referral, in which the camera frame-rate wasn't quite quick enough to be conclusive, New Zealand fans breathed a sigh of relief when the decision went the Black Sticks' way.
Germany again had most of the attack in the second half, forcing a string of penalty corners.
From one of them, Julia Mueller slammed a reverse stick strike into the net, but the video umpire ruled the penalty corner sequence hadn't finished and the shot was too high.
New Zealand did create opportunities, the best of the half
coming from one of their own penalty corners, when skipper Kayla
Sharland was left unmarked but couldn't beat Frank.
"We were total outsiders before the tournament," Russell said
afterwards. "The attitude of the team is thrilling to see, such a
talented bunch of girls. I think half of Auckland is in London at
the moment."