IAS Graduate Tristan White earned a 50th Kookaburras’ cap, but the milestone moment was subdued, as Devon Manchester’s heroics between the posts helped New Zealand upset world champions Australia to take the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title in Malaysia. After both teams were tied 2-2 in regulation time, the Black Sticks prevailed 3-1 in the shootout to regain the men’s hockey title they last won by beating Argentina in 2012. New Zealand should have won the game in regulation time but conceded a contested penalty stroke in the dying seconds. In the shootout, Australia’s sole conversion was by Jacob Whetton. Daniel Beale missed the first attempt while Eddie Ockenden and Aran Zalewski missed the third and fourth attempts. New Zealand’s Hugo Inglis, Blair Hilton and Ryan Archibald converted the Kiwis’ first three attempts while captain Simon Child missed. Kookaburras coach Graham Reid said afterwards: “I thought we pressed very well but at the end of the day they got a corner, a soft corner. We had lots of opportunities but we didn’t put them away. That’s what hockey’s about – capitalising on those opportunities.” Acknowledging the work still to be done as the team builds towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying campaign, Reid added: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint but we need to take all those lessons on board. We just need to work harder and harder back in Perth.” Paying tribute to New Zealand and the role of all three goalkeepers in the match, he said: “That’s standard New Zealand. Their goalkeeper played really well. We hit him, of course, but he also had some saves. Our goalies did pretty well as well.” In regulation time, New Zealand took the lead just five minutes in with a penalty corner by drag flick specialist Andy Hayward. The defending champion Kookaburras, who have won the tournament eight times, came out firing but Black Sticks keeper Manchester managed to bring out his best. After toiling for 50 minutes, Whetton, with an assist from Jamie Dwyer, deflected the ball past the Kiwi keeper. New Zealand looked to have sealed the title after Hayward converted another penalty corner in the 58th minute. But following an infringement inside the final minute, New Zealand conceded a penalty corner. Australia’s Whetton beat Manchester from the spot to send the match into a shootout. India beat South Korea 4-1 in a shootout after both teams were locked 2-2 in regulation time in the play-off for third place. Indian keeper Sreejesh Parattu was the hero in the shootout as he stopped two South Korean attempts. Canada finished fifth by beating Malaysia 3-1 in a shootout after both teams were tied at 4-4 in regulation time.
