13 Aug 2016

Black Sticks make Rio quarter-finals

11:10 am on 13 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - New Zealand's men's and women's hockey teams have both clinched quarter-final spots at the Rio Olympics.

The Black Sticks women drew 1-1 with world champions the Netherlands to secure their finals place with a match still to play, while the men upset top-of-the-table Belgium 3-1 to qualify.

Black Sticks' Kayla Whitelock, left, and her team mates.

Black Sticks' Kayla Whitelock, left, and her team mates (File Photo). Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The women's team were trailing the Netherlands when captain Kayla Whitelock scored with a minute left to play, drawing the match.

New Zealand's goal is the first point the defending Olympic champion side has conceded at Rio so far.

The Black Sticks women - with two wins, a draw and a loss - are now second in the pool behind the Netherlands.

On scoring the goal Whitelock said "I don't think goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek has let in too many goals at an Olympic Games so it's always good to get one past any team, let alone the number-one team in the world."

"I think we can still have a bit more composure in that attacking circle and execute a bit better. It will come. Hopefully it comes at the right time."

Charlotte Harrison said the finish was great.

"It was amazing, we'd been fighting pretty hard, everyone was doing their roles really well, pushing up and putting a lot of pressure on them and to finally get the goal was pretty cool. We are pretty happy."

"Knowing we can draw with the number-one ranked team in the world and really hold them out and defend well, then attack well - it's a good little confidence boost."

The Black Sticks play China in their last pool game tomorrow.

The USA and Great Britain top the other pool.

Meanwhile the New Zealand men's team upset Belgium 3-1 in their final pool game to gain a place in the quarter-finals.

Captain Simon Child scored shortly after half time to put New Zealand 1-0 up, and Nick Wilson extended the lead with a goal five minutes later.

Hugo Inglis put the game beyond doubt when he scored New Zealand's third goal in the final quarter.

Belgium scored shortly before full time to make it 3-1.

It was Belgium;s first loss at the Rio Olympics.

The Black Sticks men will play Germany - who topped pool B - in the quarter-finals.

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