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Host China has finally won?its first point by drawing France 3-3. New Zealand head the table with maximum points after round two of competition.

New Zealand 4 beats Japan 2

Day 3 started with the match between New Zealand and Japan, both on three points after round one. The Kiwis dominated much of the beginning of the game but had difficulty scoring after an early goal from Darren Smith, the ball deflected off a Japanese defender's stick leaving the goalkeeper without a chance.

New Zealand extended their lead late in the first half however when Bevan Hari took advantage of a mistake in the Japanese defense to make it 2-0.

When the teams came back for the second half, it looked like New Zealand was going to crush their opponents. The Kiwis scored twice within four minutes, with Ryan Archibald deflecting a Shea McAleese rebound off a penalty corner, and Phillip Burrows scoring an excellent action goal.

Late in the match, Japan found new resolve and suddenly presented themselves as a wholly different team. They got two goals back, when Takahiko Yamabori made good use of a penalty corner with a low flick, and Hiroki Sakamoto capitalized on sloppy defending from the Kiwis.

Japan kept the pressure up and had a few more good opportunities, but to no avail, New Zealand held on to their advantage and thus banked another three points to be the only team in Pool B with maximum points after the second round of competition.

Korea 3 beats Malaysia 1

In the second match of the day, Korea were in control of the game from the beginning. They ascertained their dominance with two early goals but later found it difficult to score again despite numerous opportunities.

For both early goals, Korea benefitted from set pieces, with goal number one coming from a penalty corner flicked in by Jong Hyun Jang, and goal number two from a penalty stroke converted by Kyung Seok Kim, awarded after another Jang flick had hit a defender's body on the goalline.

Malaysia on the other hand had great trouble in creating goalscoring chances for long stretches of the match. They had a promising phase in the second half though, when Chua Boon Huat first got them on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute.

What followed was the most entertaining part of the match, with play moving up and down the field, and opportunities on both sides, but eventually the Malaysians' aspirations for the equalizer were crushed when Nam Yong Lee scored with a deft flick from a tight angle.

Korea are thus back on course after only drawing with France on day one, while Malaysia are under heavy pressure after two defeats in as many matches.

China 3 draws France 3

The last match on this day of entertaining encounters was between China and France, with the hosts looking to bag their first points while France hoped to consolidate its mid-table position after Wednesday's draw with Korea.

To the cheers of the spectators, who attended in numbers despite the biting cold, China soon won a penalty corner, and with Yang Yu tapping in a ball slapped towards the goal by Yuan Dan Qiao, the hosts got on the scoreboard less than seven minutes into the match.

The very same Yuan Dan Qiao who helped score the home team's goal little later committed an error that resulted in a penalty corner for France. Frederic Soyez's initial hit could still be warded off by Chinese goalkeeper Ri Feng Su, but Florent Durchon tapped in the rebound to level the score.

Play moved back and forth, both teams striving for an advantage, but France could not capitalize on their opportunities, while China used theirs more wisely: Yi Song smartly placed a powerful drag flick to the bottom right corner of the goal to create a one goal lead that China carried into halftime.

In the second half, France increased the pressure, and reaped the benfit in the form of a penalty corner converted by team captain Frederic Soyez with a powerful dragflick. But the French joy did not last long, as less than five minutes later, China was awarded another penalty corner and Yu Bo Na deflected the ball over goalkeeper Julien Thamin.

Both teams were now fighting all out, France desperate to get at least one point, and China fueled by a victory at their fingertips. With less than one minute to go, it was France who saw their desire fulfilled when Gerome Branquart scored the equalizer.

China will be very disappointed with the result, having led three times, while France must be happy to have salvaged one point. Group B now rests again tomorrow, while pool A come out for their third round of pool matches.

(World Hockey via CRI April 15, 2006)