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Blacksticks Phillip Burrows - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand went down 3-2 to India on Saturday night in a pulsating game.
It was an evenly contested match and the first goal came in the 6th minute in the form of a trademark Indian deflection at the far post from a ball that crashed into the circle.
New Zealand had chances in the first half to draw even and Nic Haig hit the post from a PC which deflected wide in the 20th minute.
After half time New Zealand constructed a number of quality attacks with Child, Burrows and Wilson forming a strike force ably reinforced by Bhana and Neal.
In the 40th minute the Black Sticks drew even with a well taken field goal from Nick Wilson latching onto an excellent through ball from Simon Child.
The Indian team fought back and repeated their signature move with a deflection at the far post from a ball hit hard into the circle targeting their inside left who dived in to take the goal.
Petherick brings Black Sticks back
Richard Petherick bought the Black Sticks back to 2-2 with an excellent PC into the right upper corner and then the game flowed up and down the field with a couple of excellent chances for New Zealand.
New Zealand had a goal disallowed in about the 65th minute only to concede a PC with a minute to go which was converted by the Indians to take the game 3-2.
Joel Baker, playing both as a striker and as a midfielder, enjoyed a good performance.
He played a large part of the second half at inside right allowing Phil Burrows to push up to striker where he also continued his fine form through the Tournament.
Nick Wilson and Simon Child had solid games and the New Zealand attack looked in good form tonight.
The results mean New Zealand will play Germany in the 3rdv4th match.
The Germans will be smarting from a 7-1 defeat to the Dutch, who will play the Indians in the final.
