New Delhi, Delhi, India
New Zealand defeated France 2-1 in a tight Pool A clash to open their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory at the Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.
Kane Russell scored for New Zealand in the 17th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead which was fursther extended by Stephen Jenness. He powered the ball home to extend the lead 2-0 in the fourth and final quarter with a controlled long pass.
Jenness was given player of the match for his crucial contribution to New Zealand's victory.
Also Read | Men's Hockey World Cup 2018: Schedule, Squad, Time and Venue
? | POTM | @StephenJenness | @BlackSticks #HWC2018 #Odisha2018
?? #NZLvFRA ?? pic.twitter.com/ukmLuVp4Cq
— Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) November 29, 2018
It seemed France wouldn't be able to open its account but in the concluding minutes, France earned a penalty corner and converted it but that was not enough, as the final score was 2-1.\
As it happened | New Zealand vs France
In the other match of Pool A, Olympic champions Argentina were made to dig deep to eke out a 4-3 win over Spain.
? | It is @ArgFieldHockey who top the pool on the second day of Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 pic.twitter.com/XbW16Wd8CH
— Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) November 29, 2018
France, making an appearance in the Men's Hockey World Cup after 28 years, will next meet Spain on December 6.