New Zealand registered a 3-1 victory against South Korea for their first victory in the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a clinical performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh this evening.
Black Sticks captain Sam Lane scored a brace (18th and 49th minutes), and George Enersen (51st). The Koreans’ solitary goal was scored by Kim Hyeonhong (30th).
New Zealand have amassed four points after two matches while the Koreans lost two matches. Sam was also named Player of the Match.
The opening quarter was evenly contested until the 18th minute when the Kiwis earned their first penalty corner. Lane once again rose to New Zealand’s rescue with a powerful shot towards the goalmouth. Goalkeeper Kim Jaehan intercepted, but unfortunately, the ball found its way between his pads and rolled into the goal.
The 28-year-old Lane, who has 119 caps under his belt, had also scored New Zealand’s equalizer in similar fashion against the Malaysians in Sunday’s opening match that saw the Kiwis make a strong comeback to hold the 2022 champions to a 1-1 draw.
But the Koreans, who lost their opening match 1-0 against five-time champions India on Sunday, hit back in the 30th minute through Hyeonhong for the equaliser from a penalty corner conversion.
The last two quarters were equally balanced, but it was the Kiwis who took their chances well and responded strongly to go 3-1 ahead through Lane’s brace and Enersen’s field goal three minutes later.
NEW ZEALAND: Greg Nicol (Coach)
I am happy with the win. The conditions got really tough again in the second half. It got heavy, and we actually ended up playing really good hockey and creating a lot of chances. So happy. We’re in a good position now in the tournament after that win. Going into a game against Canada in two days time where hopefully we can get another win. So, yeah, really happy with how the boys played today.
SOUTH KOREA: Taeseok Min (Coach)
My players have yet to recuperate from Sunday’s late-night match against India and I must say that it has to a certain way affected our performance today. Nevertheless, credit to New Zealand for their win. They came back strong to find two goals towards the last quarter.
