Chance still in hockey

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 12

Chance still in hockey

By MAX LAMBERT, NZPA staff correspondent. Montreal Pakistan, silver medallists at Munich four years ago. yesterday extinguished New Zea- j land’s hopes of an easy passage into the semi-finals of! the Olympic hockev tourna-| tnent. The Asian team crushed' New Zealand. 5-2 forcing the Kiwis into a playoff with, Spain to decide which team; joins Pakistan as the two I semi-finalists front Pool B. Pakistan was assured of a semi-final berth before yesterday’s match but New Zealand had to win or draw to go into' the semi-finals. Its loss left it equal on points and dictated a playoff At one stage yeterday a three-way tie for second position in the poo! seemed possible But West Germany shat-.

[tered Belgium 6-1 and the 'Belgians. who would have I joined New Zealand and i Spam had they won, were out > of the reckoning. ■ ■ The prospect of New Zealand making the semi-finals • Roomed strongly on Saturday fias a result of Belgium’s 3-2 • 'win over Spain. Pakistan finished on top in I’the pool with seven points ollow'ed by Spain and New Zealand (4). West Germany n(3) and Belgium (2). ■ West Germanv. gold medallists at Munich, have suri irised all observers with their roor plav in Montreal. The team includes many Munich • veterans but thev simply have not played welt. The B pool position was repeated in the A pool where Australia vesterday lost its opportunitv to join Holland '•»nd go directlv into the semi .finals when it was beaten 3-2;

eiby Argentina. The Australians! el now face a playoff tomorrow' :1 against India to decide who t.gets the second semi-final; (slot. Pakistan wrapped up yes-| s terday’s game with New Zea- . land with a three-goal cluster! 1 in the space of 10 minutes i early in the first half. They Trammed in goals from lonsi - corners in the fourth minutes and again in the eighth ancfc ■ I scored a third six minutes! later with a brilliant shot onj -ithe New Zealand goalie J 1 Trevor Manning, from a very; i icute angle after a dashing! '•attack down the left wing, j i The New Zealanders! ?; seemed bewildered by the) blistering speed of the Paki- 1 • stanis. who looked as if they. ‘ were plaving the final for the; • gold medal. j I New Zealand pulled one; 'inal back when the inside !i left, Thur Borren' flicked thej.

bail into the net six minutes 'from half-time, after Barry JMaister had broken through. But Pakistan roared back Ito score again after a sharp 'attack and led 4-1 at halfjtime. Pakistan made it 5-1 four minutes into the second spell from another long comer penialty but New Zealand cut! tjthe margin to 5-2 in the] Leleventh minute when Tony' llneson whacked in a goal (from a penalty comer. New Zealand was perhaps •lucky to get away with a 5-2 (loss, as two of Pakistan’s Igoals in the second spell were by the -umpire for (infringements. 1 An amazing feature of the game was the number of corners — 12 long corners to Pakistan, nine to New Zealand. three penalty corners! to Pakistan, eight to New [Zealand. 1