Black Sticks draw against world champions with two late strikes

The Black Sticks men scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to snatch a 4-4 draw against Belgium at North Harbour last night.

That was enough to earn a first point in the new Pro League competition and they had the chance to claim a second when the match went to a shootout but the world champions prevailed 4-2.

Belgium dominated early on but a Black Sticks counter-attack found an open Stephen Jenness at the top of the circle. His shot was stopped by a Belgian foot, earning New Zealand a stroke. Hugo Inglis converted from the spot but Belgium were level within two minutes when a square ball across the circle was angled in by Cedric Charlier.

Belgium hit the front when they stopped the Black Sticks from clearing the ball from the circle and Maxime Plennevaux flicked it past the goalkeeper from an acute angle to give the visitors a 2-1 halftime lead.

The Black Sticks tied the match at 2-2 after Aidan Sarikaya found himself unmarked in the circle and reversed it into the top of the net.

Belgium hit back almost instantly when Arthur Van Doren deflected home a cross ball in the circle and then increased their lead to 4-2 when Charlier reversed home.

Belgium looked to be heading to victory but the Black Sticks came storming back through goals to Nic Woods and Jenness which sent the match to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

The Black Sticks women were left ruing missed opportunities last night, particularly when Belgian skipper Jill Boon scored the game’s only goal with barely a minute remaining.

New Zealand, ranked sixth in the world, out-shot the visitors 13-8 at North Harbour but couldn’t convert and were beaten by Belgium, who at No 13 are the lowest-ranked of the nine Pro League teams.

The result means New Zealand are still without a point in the Pro League after starting their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Sunday.

Both Black Sticks teams next play in Christchurch on Friday against Great Britain, with the British women now coached by former New Zealand coach Mark Hager.