New Zealand have ambushed the Kookaburras to force their Olympic hockey qualification series to a deciding third game.
The Black Sticks scored three first-quarter goals then held on to win 4-2 in Whangarei on Saturday to level the three-game Oceania Cup series 1-1.
Silver medallists from the Tokyo Games, Australia won the series opener 3-1 on Thursday but looked rattled early in Saturday’s re-match as the hosts pressed.
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New Zealand were unlucky not to add a fourth first-quarter goal when denied by the upright.
Jake Whetton and Jeremy Hayward pegged goals back in the second and third quarters to give Australia hope.
The Kookaburras replaced their goalkeeper with another field player with four minutes to play in the final term in a desperate bid to equalise.
But the Black Sticks denied Colin Batch’s men in a huge upset that turns Sunday’s series finale into a high-stakes clash for direct Olympic qualification.
The winner can start planning for Paris in less than a year, while the loser will be forced into a last-gasp qualification series to ensure they feature at the showpiece event.
The Hockeyroos have all but secured qualification after a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.
After winning the opening game 3-0, they now just need to avoid a three-goal loss in Sunday’s third match to seal their passage to Paris.
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