Black Sticks miss automatic Hockey World Cup qualification with loss to Ireland

Hayden Phillips reacts with disappointment as the Black Sticks miss a chance for World Cup qualification. GETTY IMAGES

The Black Sticks men have missed a chance to secure automatic qualification for the 2018 Hockey World Cup after being beaten 1-0 by Ireland in their classification playoff at the Hockey World League semifinal in South Africa.

It was a tight contest which saw both sides locked in a goal-less stalemate for most of the game before Ireland delivered the winning strike with a 49th minute field goal from Alan Sothern.

from FieldHockey.com http://ift.tt/2tRDBrx
via IFTTT