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Black Sticks' Nick Wilson competes for the ball against Korea. - Source: Photosport -
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Korea gave the Black Sticks men a lesson in how to play at pace as they beat the home side 4-1 today at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland.
After taking an early lead, the Kiwis let the Koreans dictate the speed of the game and never seemed to claw back control of the match.
Following two Black Sticks victories last weekend, Korea came from two goals down on Thursday to collect a win.
With today's victory, tomorrow's fifth and final test will be the series decider.
Black Sticks men's coach Shane McLeod said his side didn't value possession today and lost a lot of the 50:50 battles.
"They (Korea) play an extremely fast game and in today's match they certainly bullied us in a couple of areas that I wouldn't have expected them to have so much dominance," McLeod said.
"The sheer pace of some of the Korean boys is a handful to deal with."
"Korea is a side that can smash the best in the world and we have to be mindful that we are taking them on with not necessarily our Olympic selection," furthered McLeod who was today missing striker Simon Child, midfielder Steve Edwards and defender and captain Dean Couzins as he rotates his squad in the build-up to the Olympics.
McLeod said that the Koreans have one of the best penalty corner combinations and the number one priority for tomorrow's series decider would be not conceding any corners.
New Zealand opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a beautiful through pass from Phil Burrows found Nick Wilson in the circle and he slotted the ball high into the net.
Korea replied with two quick penalty corner drag flicks to Jong Jang to give them a 2-1 lead at halftime.
An early field goal and another penalty corner goal to Korea in the second spell, were enough to give the visitors the comfortable 4-1 victory.
The two sides will meet again tomorrow at 3pm at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium.
Black Sticks: 1 (Wilson goal).
Korea: 4 (Jang 2, Lee 3 goals).
