KUALA LUMPUR – New Zealand head coach Greg Nicol has urged his players to remain vigilant against South Korea’s lightning-fast counterattacks when the two sides meet in the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Cup on Friday.
His remarks came after the Black Sticks, ranked 11th in the world, edged past Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling Group B encounter at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
The result saw New Zealand top their group with a perfect nine points, securing a semi-final berth with an unblemished record.
“We had a practice match against South Korea before the tournament, so we’ve had a glimpse of what to expect,” Nicol told Scoop after the match.
“They’ve had a strong tournament—very structured, with a dangerous counter-attack typical of Asian sides. We’ll need to be disciplined, composed, and make our chances count.”
Reflecting on the hard-fought win over Pakistan, Nicol praised his team’s mental resilience and clinical set-piece execution.
“We had to show a lot of character again. The first half was dominated in terms of possession and circle entries, but the opposition made their chances count, and we didn’t,” he said.
“Still, we knew we had enough of the ball and enough opportunities to turn the game around. Patience was key, and ultimately, our penalty corners made the difference. That’s exactly what you want—your corner battery stepping up and delivering when it matters most.”
Drag flicker Scott Boyde was the hero of the night, netting a stunning hat-trick to help the Black Sticks overturn a one-goal deficit.
“There are several flickers in the squad. Kane Russell wasn’t here, and Sam Lane, who was in the squad, is injured. But we still have Nic Woods, Scott Coslett and Jonty Elmes. Tonight, it was Scotty’s (Boyde) night. It’s important to have multiple threats at set-pieces, and the team stepped up,” Nicol added.
“This was likely Scott’s first hat-trick in a tournament—well deserved and a great moment for him.”
While satisfied with the win, Nicol admitted concern over his team’s tendency to concede early goals.
“Coming from behind in two straight matches isn’t ideal. We’re aiming to play from a strong, positive platform, and in many ways we did that tonight, but let in a few soft goals,” he noted.
“We want to play attractive hockey, and with that comes the risk of turnovers, which gave Pakistan opportunities.
“It’s certainly not the game plan to fall behind, but the team has shown great resilience. Every match, we work to start well and control the game early. Still, it’s encouraging to know we’ve got the belief and ability to fight back when things don’t go our way.”
Earlier today, South Korea endured intense heat to claim a 1-0 win over South Africa, booking their place in the Nations Cup semi-finals. — June 18, 2025