Kim Jong Hee hits hat-trick to kill off New Zealand

Korea overcame great resistance from New Zealand to run out 5-3 winners in a pulsating Pool C match here in Amstelveen. Kim Jong Hee scored three times to give Korea all three points.

The win puts Korea onto four points in Pool C, the group that will decide the top four finishing positions in this year’s Champions Trophy. Korea currently top the pool ahead of this evening’s meeting between Argentina and The Netherlands.

The first 35 minutes were truly exceptional, with the crowd being treated to arguably the best half of the tournament so far. Both teams had a clear attacking intent, although Korea were certainly the more threatening in the early stages.

Kim Jong Hee put her side ahead in the seventh minute of the match when she found room in the circle on the right before slapping a shot past Black Sticks keeper Bianca Russell.

New Zealand almost scored an immediate reply through Katie Glynn, but her close range deflection effort from the pass of Cathryn Finlayson was a fraction wide of the right post.

Despite this close call, Korea were still very much in charge and moved into a 2-0 lead in the 13^th minute. Hong Yoojin was the scorer, crashing a powerful shot from a tight angle on the right which hit the Russell’s backboard at break-neck speed.

Korea were tearing open the New Zealand defence seemingly at will, playing free-flowing, attacking hockey at a pace that their opponents were struggling to cope with.

However, New Zealand gave themselves hope when they managed to get the ball in the back of the Korean goal with ten minutes of the half remaining. Katie Glynn was the scorer, getting the vital touch on a cross into the circle to beat Korea keeper Moon Young Hui.

It proved to be a massive boost to the Black Sticks, who set about the hunt for the equalizer with great purpose. They needed just over a minute to achieve it when Charlotte Harrison fired into the goal to tie the scores at 2-2 after just 27 minutes.  

As if four goals in the half weren’t enough, Korea almost scored their third when Kim Jong Hee’s penalty corner deflection hit the frame of the New Zealand goal.  

The second half had fewer goals, but was still constantly enthralling and exhilarating. Korea moved ahead once again in the 42^nd minute when Kim Jong Eun scored from open play, but Anita Punt’s ruthless penalty corner rebound strike drew New Zealand level once again.

Korea maintained their focus and were back in front with 15 minutes of the match remaining. Kim Jong Hee was the again the scorer, forcing in a shot from a tight angle that went through Bianca Russell’s legs. The New Zealanders rallied once again, but their challenge was finally killed off when Kim Jong Hee completed both the scoring and her hat-trick with a clinical finish in the 67^th minute.

Review 15. Korea vs New Zealand (5-3) - Rabo FIH Champions Trophy 2011

> This is the first CT match to see at least 8 goals since the 2008 CT final Argentina – Germany 6-2.

> Korea’s only previous CT win over New Zealand came in their first CT meeting in 1987 (8-1) in a 9-goal match.

> This is Korea’s first victory over New Zealand since 12 February 2008 (4-0) in a test match.

> Korea are now on 4 points in Pool C, New Zealand are on 1 point.

> Kim Jong-Hee scored 3 goals today. She now tops the goalscorer list on 4 goals at Amstelveen 2011.

> 7 field goals were scored in this match. Only once did a CT match see more field goals scored: In 2005 8 field goals were scored during Netherlands – Germany 8-1.

> Anna Thorpe played her 50th match for the Black Sticks today.