South Africa defeated New Zealand 4-3 in a sudden-death shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation time in the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 9-12th classification match at the National Hockey Stadium today.
South Africa will now play Belgium in the 9-10th playoff match on Friday to decide their final standings in the event, while Malaysia and New Zealand will play in the 11-12th placings match.
New Zealand went ahead 3-0 with goals from Aiden Bax (11th minute, field goal), Sam Lints (13th, penalty corner), and James Hickson (34th, field goals), but South Africa clawed back to level the score 3-3 with a brace from Hans Neethling (penalty stroke, 39th, and field goal, 49th), and Ayakha Mthalane’s penalty corner conversion in the 43rd minute.
The match went into a sudden-death shootout, which the South Africans prevailed 4-3 to celebrate victory.
