The New Zealand men's hockey team has beaten Spain 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out to secure seventh place at the World Cup in The Hague.
Kane Russell scored for the Black Sticks just out from half-time before Spain equalised late in the second half to take the seventh/eighth classification playoff to a one-on-one penalty shoot-out.
New Zealand converted all four attempts thanks to Hugo Inglis, Blair Hilton, Steve Edwards and Simon Child while goalkeeper Devon Manchester made two crucial saves to seal the result.
While the Black Sticks men had higher ambitions at the tournament, the seventh place finish equals their best ever placing at a Hockey World Cup.
Head coach Colin Batch says it was pleasing to win the shoot-out and finish the tournament in a positive way.
Australia beat The Netherlands 6-1 in the final, while Argentina beat England 2-0 in the bronze medal match.
