"VAN" (Sports Desk - 20.06.2026) :: For the first time since 2022, New Zealand will not be in the final of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup after they lost in a shootout to hosts South Africa following a 2-2 draw in regulation time in their semifinal at Hartleyvale Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
The Black Sticks were not able to convert any of their four shootout attempts, thanks to the outstanding goalkeeper Cullin de Jager, who also shone during the preceding hour.
South Africa were not flattered by the result, being typically dangerous on the counter but also adding a defensive performance of great determination.
The hosts, who won the inaugural Nations Cup at home in Potchefstroom in 2022, will take on France, who have finished third and second in the last two editions, in Saturday's final.
France edged out Japan 4-3 in an enthralling semifinal that saw the teams locked at 3-3 at halftime. A goal-less third quarter followed, before Corentin Sellier came up with a superb finish for the winner in the 53rd minute.
Earlier, Malaysia had come from 2-0 down to beat the United States 4-2 and they will play Scotland in the playoff for fifth place. Nations Cup Debutants Scotland continued their remarkable tournament by holding Ireland to a 4-4 draw, Jamie Golden scoring a magnificent equaliser with 35 seconds remaining. Scotland then held their nerve to win the shootout 8-7 in sudden death.
Malaysia 4 USA 2 (5th-8th playoff)
A 4-2 defeat for FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup debutants the USA seemed unreasonably harsh given how well they played, but huge credit to Malaysia, who staged an incredible comeback to win from 2-0 down at halftime.
The USA were good value for their 2-0 lead at the break, having had nine shots at goal compared to Malaysia's single effort and having nearly twice as many circle entries.
But Malaysia lifted their pace in the second half and played with more connection up front, finishing the match with 59% possession and 11 penalty corners to seven.
Excellent work by Muhajir Abdu Rauf earned a penalty corner soon after the break, Mohamad Anuar opening Malaysia's account with a well-placed flick.
Malaysia then scored probably the goal of the match in the 39th minute to equalise at 2-2 and mark the 400th goal in the history of the men's Nations Cup in fitting style. Mohammad Azrai ran into the circle and played a marvellous one-two with Anuar, tapping in for his 70th international goal.
The USA could feel a little unfortunate with the way they conceded the third and fourth goals, however. With eight minutes remaining, goalkeeper Andre de la Porte pulled off a good snap save but the ball lifted off his pad and Malaysia were awarded a penalty corner, Faizal Saari scoring with a wonderful drag-flick into the left corner.
Just three minutes later, De la Porte made a fine penalty corner save, but the rebound was slotted home by Faris Harizan.
The USA pushed hard in the last five minutes but could not convert any of the chances they made.
The Americans had made a wonderful start to the game, immediately earning a trio of penalty corners, with Sekayi Charasika powering a flick into goal from the third set-piece.
Early in the second quarter, a fine tackle by Aki Kaeppeler stopped a Malaysian attack and a long free hit found Jack Heldens, who made a strong run to the edge of the circle and then hit a cross ball to Alberto Montilla at the penalty spot, the 28-year-old knocking the ball into goal.
But Malaysia regrouped in the second half to prove once again that they can never be discounted.
Player of the Match Marhan Jalil hailed the team's improvement in the second half.
"What we improved was playing as a team more and little technical things. We also focused on our passing and our marking was tighter. Our penalty corners were good, but we had a lot of them and hopefully we can adjust a bit to convert 100% of them," Jalil said.
Ireland 4 Scotland 4 (7-8 SO) (5th-8th playoff)
A sudden death shootout is eventually what separated the Celtic nations as Scotland upset Ireland to advance to the playoff for fifth position, following a 4-4 draw in regulation time.
Scotland, making their debut in the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup and ranked 17th to Ireland's ninth, were 2-0 up after 35 minutes through Jacob Tweedie's close-ranger goal and a brilliant penalty corner drag-flick by Jamie Golden.
Ireland were on the board in the 40th minute as Matthew Nelson bunted in a rebound after a double save at a penalty corner by in-form Scotland goalkeeper Tommie Alexander, but the underdogs regained their two-goal buffer when Cameron Golden's stick was played from behind in the circle and younger brother Jamie squeezed the penalty stroke into the left corner.
Scotland were 3-1 up after the third quarter and looking comfortable, but what a final quarter Ireland produced as they pushed the Scottish defence to the point of exhaustion. That defence finally cracked in the last five minutes as Ireland scored three goals in four minutes.
Darragh Walsh's slap into the middle of the circle was deflected into goal by Nelson and then Greg Williams did great defensive work to win the ball back for Ireland, Benjamin Walker finding Sam Hyland in the circle and he beat Alexander at his near post.
With a shootout looking likely, Ireland claimed what was surely the winner when a quick free hit to Ben Nelson at the top of the circle saw him find Jeremy Duncan who prodded the ball home at the far post.
But Jamie Golden then stunned everyone at Hartleyvale when he completed his hat-trick and saved the draw for Scotland with just 35 seconds remaining. Alistair Douglas controlled a loose ball in the circle very well, feeding Golden, who showed exceptional composure to run wide of the circle into space and then flick over the goalkeeper from an acute angle.
Scotland missed their first two shots in the shootout, however, giving Ireland a 2-1 advantage after the first three players had gone. Walker and Kyle Marshall then both failed to score for Ireland and Scotland captain Robert Field turned and finished the fifth and final attempt in polished fashion to take the shootout into a second round.
Both teams failed with their third attempts, sending the shootout into sudden death.
Matthew Nelson tripped and his goalbound shot was well-saved with the glove by Alexander, leaving Struan Walker to provide the winner for Scotland, low into the right corner.
Shot-stopper supreme Alexander was a relieved man at the end of it all.
"This win is huge for us, considering where we are ranked. We should have closed out the game, but we went into our shells a bit. But we showed great courage to score the last goal in regulation play and I'm really proud that we've shown we are a good hockey nation. This is another building block from the World Cup qualifiers," Alexander said.
France 4 Japan 3 (semifinal)
France and Japan exhilarated their fans in the first half and then produced a tense second half as the French won a thrilling semifinal 4-3 to reach the men's Nations Cup final for the second time.
Instead of feeling their way into the vital encounter, both teams seemed to want to blow the other off the field in the first half. Japan produced some tremendous attacking runs, while France were all about long balls and clinical entries into the circle.
Japan goalkeeper Takashi Yashikawa had to make two good saves in the first four minutes and then France almost immediately paid for a mistake by intimidating defender Victor Charlet. He sent a long ball from halfway back towards his 23, but it went straight to Koji Yamasaki, whose reverse-sticks shot was saved by Corentin Saunier, but Seren Tanaka showed great skill to turn the rebound out wide into another opportunity, his pinpoint pass to Oyama Ooka being nudged into goal.
Charlet needed just two minutes to make amends as he equalised with a high drag-flick after a reckless tackle at the top of the circle by Tanaka had given away a penalty corner.
But the end-to-end action continued as Keito Tanaka then raced into the French circle and earned a penalty corner, which was converted by Shota Yamada powering a flick right down the middle.
Just two minutes later, Xavier Esmenjaud scored the fourth goal inside the first 10 minutes when he tapped in another French equaliser during a goalmouth scramble after a re-awarded penalty corner had not been stopped properly.
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