Hockey World Cup 2018, Match 12: New Zealand vs Argentina Hockey Live Score, Commentary & Updates

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NEW ZEALAND NEEDED AN EARLY GOAL - THE BLACK STICKS TRIED EARLY ATTACKS IN BOTH HALVES BUT FAILED TO FIND THE MARK- ARGENTINA CONTROLLED PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE MATCH WITH 59% OF THE POSSESSION, 20 CIRCLE ENTRIES, AND 11 SHOTS ON GOAL.

THE SOUTH AMERICANS PLAYED THE MATCH AT THEIR OWN PACE - MAZILLI SCORED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE COMPETITION, LUCAS VILA GOT ONE OFF A SUPERB STRIKE FROM THE EDGE OF THE CIRCLE, AND PEILLAT FAILED TO SCORE BUT ALLOWED MARTINEZ TO DO SO OFF A DEFT PC VARIATION, AND WAS SOLID IN DEFENCE.

VILA IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AND ARGENTINA HAVE CEMENTED THEIR PLACE IN THE KNOCKOUTS

FULL-TIME: ARGENTINA 3 - NEW ZEALAND 0

23' AGUSTIN MAZZILLI

41' LUCAS VILA

55' LUCAS MARTINEZ

59' Time ticking away for the Black Sticks - as they push forward one last time - cannot do much as Argentina get the ball back - and earn 3 vital points

57' NZ unable to get their bearings right - scamper around the pitch as Argentina control the proceedings with aplomb

ARGENTINA 3 - NEW ZEALAND 0

55' ARGENTINA SCORE OFF A PC - NOT PEILLAT THOUGH - ALL EYES ON THE MASTER DRAG FLICKER WHO FLIPS IT FOR IBARRA WHO FINDS MARTINEZ UNMARKED - SUPERB VARIATION

53' Argentina pass the ball around - play a long ball in - sloppy defending by NZ as they concede a PC

51' NZ look for a PC in the Argentine circle - cannot find a foot

50' Rossi misses - not by much though - NZ look to advance down the center and do not find space

49' Aidan Sarikaya this time tries to fire a shot in - denied at the goalmouth

48' TARRANT DOES WELL TO DART FORWARD AND ANGLE A BALL IN - HE LOBS IT TOO FAR AHEAD OF THE BLACK SHIRTS AROUND

THE BLACK STICKS MAKE A MESS OF THE PC - JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH

47' NZ HAVE A PC - CAN RUSSEL SCORE???

46' PEILLAT HASN'T SCORED - BUT HE HAS BEEN CALM AND SOLID IN DEFENCE - DENY THE NZ STRIKERS A SHOT ON GOAL

HAVE ARGENTINA DONE ENOUGH TO SECURE THREE POINTS AND CEMENT A PLACE IN THE KNOCKOUTS - AND DO NZ HAVE THE QUALITY TO COME BACK FROM A TWO-GOAL DEFICIT???

END OF Q3: ARGENTINA 2 - NEW ZEALAND 0

44' HOW ON EARTH DID NZ NOT SCORE??? JARED PANCHIA CANNOT GET THE FAINTEST OF TOUCHES IN AFTER VIVALDI IS DOWN

42' Argentina into the attack yet again - Ortiz pulled up for an obstruction though

ARGENTINA 2 - NEW ZEALAND 0

LUCAS VILA FIRES IT IN FROM THE EDGE OF THE CIRCLE AFTER STEALING THE BALL OFF THE STICK OF AN NZ DEFENDER- HAS HE SEALED THE DEAL FOR ARGENTINA????

40' VILA SCORES - OR DOES HE????

39' NZ pressing harder now - more black shirts in the Argenine half - dart forward to no avail

THE MASTER TAKES THE FLICK BUT RICHARD JOYCE SAVES FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY

37' ARGENTINA HAVE A PC - PEILLAT IS ON THE PITCH

35' NZ still not attacking with purpose - keeping the gaps well plugged in their own half

PEILLAT FLICKS - JOYCE SAVES AFTER BENDING LOW DOWN

34' ARGENTINA HAVE A PC

33' ARGENTINA HAVE A CHANCE TO DOUBLE THE LEAD - MAZILLI CANNOT GET A TOUCH OFF A PASS FROM PAREDAS

31' YET AGAIN- NZ LAUNCH AN EARLY ATTACK - PEILLAT AND IBARRA TO THE RESCUE

ARGENTINA HAVE HAD 56% OF BALL POSSESSION - "WE NEED MORE POSSESSION" SAYS GERMAN OROZCO. "WE NEED MORE CONVICTION" SAYS DARREN SMITH

At the half. Argentina leading thanks to a ripping reverse from Agustin Mazzilli. @BlackSticks will be looking for a dominating second half to get the necessary 3 points. pic.twitter.com/1UiWYmpKzR
— Vantage Black Sticks (@BlackSticks) December 3, 2018

NEW ZEALAND FAILED TO FIND AN EARLY GOAL AFTER BEGINNING THE MATCH AT A BLISTERING PACE - THEY FAILED, AND THE SOUTH AMERICANS TOOK CONTROL AFTER SLOWING THINGS DOWN CONSIDERABLY - AGUSTIN MAZZILLI SCORED FOR THE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN TWO MATCHES - THE BLACK STICKS UNABLE TO GET ENOUGH OF THE BALL TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE GAME

HALF-TIME: ARGENTINA 1 - NEW ZEALAND 0

29' Ibarra plays a long aerial ball to play the clock down for half-time

28' The Black Sticks knock the ball around in their own half - and surrender possession to Argentina - Martinez gets a green card

26' NZ get a good long angular ball into the Argentine circle - no damage done though

24' Argentina slow the match down to a snail's pace in their own circle - before quickly venturing ahead after the ball is played in deep

ARGENTINA 1 - NEW ZEALAND 0

23' WHO SCORES THE OPENER???? MAZILLI - YET AGAIN - GETS HIS THIRD OF THE WORLD CUP - FIRES THE BALL INTO THE TOP CORNER OF THE NET - MONSTER STRIKE!!

21' Good aerial ball in by the Argentinians - Jared Panchia steals the ball way and to safety

20' Argentina looking to build down the center - NZ solid as ever at the back

KANE RUSSEL FLICKS - VIVALDI SAVES - JENNESS CANNOT MAKE THE MOST OF A DEFLECTION

18' NZ HAVE A PC AFTER A SWIFT MOVE DOWN THE RIGHT!!

16' JOYCE TO THE RESCUE - PEREDAS FINDS VILA - BOTH VETERANS COMBINE WELL BUT CANNOT FIND THE OPENING GOAL

ARGENTINA VERY MUCH IN CONTROL AFTER THE BLACK STICKS FAIL TO FIND AN EARLY GOAL - THE OLYMPIC CHAMPS PLAYING THE MATCH AT A PACE OF THEIR CHOOSING- THREE SHOTS ON GOAL FOR BOTH SIDES

END OF Q1: ARGENTINA 0 - NEW ZEALAND 0

14' Long crash ball played into the NZ circle - to no avail though - JENNESS TAKES A SWING WHICH IS WIDE OFF TARGET!!!

13' NZ have a chance to start a quick counter - the black shirts cannot chase the ball in time

11' The Black Sticks unable to get moving as Argentina control the tempo at the center of the pitch