5th Hockey Test: South Korea edge out New Zealand 1-0

South Korean men’s hockey team continued their stellar run in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, beating the hosts by a solitary goal in the fifth Test to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the five-match lead at the Papatoetoe Sports Centre on Tuesday.

The Shin Kyo Seok-coached South Koreans silenced the home crowd when they notched up an early goal inside the first two minutes through Nam Young Lee. It was Nam’s third goal of the series, having scored once in the first two Tests.

The Koreans soared in confidence after the opening goal and attacked in waves but the Black Sticks’ defence held out firmly to keep themselves in the contest.

South Korea led 1-0 at the break.

The Asian giants went on the offensive from the start of the second half. They forced two penalty corners but New Zealand goalkeeper Devon Manchester foiled both those attempts.

The home engineered two short corners five minutes later, but drag-flick expert Andy Hayward was unable to breach the Korean goalmouth.

Striker Hugo Inglis, playing his 100th international match, created several scoring opportunities along with vastly experienced Phil Burrows but the Koreans kept them at bay.

Both teams play the sixth and final Test at the same venue on Wednesday.

South Korean had taken an unassailable 2-0 in the series when they prevailed over New Zealand 2-1 in the fourth Test at Pukekohe.

Earlier on Saturday, the Koreans broke the stalemate beating New Zealand 2-0 in the third Test. Both New Zealand and South Korea had played out a second successive 1-1 draw in the second of the six match men’s hockey Test series at the Rangitoto College in Auckland.

The first Test had also ended in a 1-1 at the same venue.

It may be mentioned here that the South Koreans recently played a four-match Test series against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth.

The Asian giants won the first Test 4-1 in penalty shootout after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time.

Stung by the opening Test defeat, Australia came out firing in the second Test, pipping the Redshirts 5-2.

South Korea then took the upper hand leading 3-2 in the third Test, but were denied a much deserved win by a late equaliser from Matt Williams.

Australia then wrapped up the series in style crushing the Koreans 4-0 in the fourth and final Test. Trent Milton, Russell Ford, Kieren Govers and Rob Hammond scored for the Kookaburras.