Black Sticks seal Champions Challenge

By tvnz.co.nz's John Whiting

Published: 10:01AM Monday December 14, 2009 Source: ONE Sport

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The Black Sticks have stunned Pakistan 4-2 to win the Champions Challenge in Argentina on Monday.

With the score level 2-2 at halftime, the Kiwis knocked in two goals in the final seven minutes of the game to take the result.

Along with four goals, New Zealand's defence was outstanding with goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex coming up with big-time saves.

The win secures New Zealand a spot in the elite Champions Trophy in Germany held over July and August next year.

The Black Sticks were off to a flying start with up-tempo passing leaving the Pakistan back-field scrambling.

Captain Phil Burrows had a chance from right in front of goal in just the first minute of the game but the shot went wide left.

Pakistan won their first penalty corner in the sixth minute with a deflection onto Arun Panchia's foot inside the circle.

Sohail Abbas then drilled a stunning drag-flick past goalkeeper Pontifex to put the Pakistanis up 1-0.

But the lead was short lived when the Kiwis won a penalty corner of their own 10 minutes later.

Andy Hayward sent a ball rocketing to the left post where Ryan Archibald was waiting to tap in a straightforward deflection.

And the Black Sticks weren't done there.

Burrows made it 2-1 to New Zealand in the 20th minute after a Pakistan error gave the Kiwis a fast-break, ending with a superb diving deflection into the back of the goal.

New Zealand looked destined to hold the lead until Pakistan's Rehan Butt came up with a circus shot between his legs right on halftime to level the score at 2-2.

The second half was played at high speed with end-to-end runs creating chances for both sides.

Pakistan won the first penalty corner of the half after 10 minutes but the shot was well saved by Pontifex.

The pressure on New Zealand's defence increased as time ticked away, compounded with another penalty corner 12 minutes out from fulltime - defused by yet another great save.

Defence then spilled over to offence in a big way with two goals in one minute securing the result.

Steven Edwards drove the first shot home before Burrows deflected his second goal of the game past the keeper from a Simon Child pass.

Pakistan battled to score over the final three minutes but the two-goal buffer was too much.

New Zealand 4: (Ryan Archibald, Phil Burrows (2), Steven Edwards)
Pakistan 2: (Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt)
Halftime: Black Sticks 2-2 Pakistan

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