New Delhi: New Zealand and Canada played out an exciting encounter that went to the wire at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Canada took a surprising lead in the very first minute after through Mark Pearson and then Philip Wright struck in the 20th minute. For New Zealand, Priyesh Bhana got the equaliser in the 11th minute and Nicholas Haig gave them the lead by converting a penalty corner in the 47th). Archibald struck merely four minutes before the regulation time as the Black Sticks bagged three points.
Canada took New Zealand by surprise in the very first minute and Pearson sounded the board as goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex remained a mute spectator.
Indian origin striker Bhana, who came in as a replacement for New Zealand’s star striker Simon Child, did well to fire in the equaliser and he slammed in after getting a precise-pass from Phillip Burrows. Child pulled out of the tournament due to security situations.
Wright broke the deadlock after he trapped in a long hit from Sukhwinder Gabbar Singh and slammed it as Canada went into the break with a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, both teams stepped up the accelerator but the Canadian defence was rock solid despite relentless attack from New Zealand. Haig equalized for New Zealand by converting their first penalty corner and Archibald, whose father Jeff was a part of the gold winning team in the 1976 Montreal Games, wrapped up things in style.
Meanwhile title holders Germany started their Hockey World Cup campaign with a fighting 2-2 draw with Asian champions South Korea while star drag-flicker Taeke Taekema struck thrice as the Netherlands thrashed Argentina 3-0 in their Pool A matches at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Monday.
In another match, a Ryan Archibald goal in the dying minutes helped New Zealand edge past Canada 3-2
South Korea surprised the Germans, who are chasing their hat-trick of titles, with their raw speed and led 2-0 at the halftime with strikes from Hye-Sung Hyun and Nam-Young Lee. Florian Fuchs and Benjamin Wess struck in the second half from Germany.