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Published: Sunday November 15, 2009 MYT 12:45:00 PM

NZ beat Malaysia to qualify for hockey World Cup

INVERCARGILL, New Zealand (AP): New Zealand beat Malaysia 2-1 in the final of a six-nation qualifying tournament Sunday to win a spot at the 2010 men's field hockey World Cup in India.

Host New Zealand, ranked No.8 in the world, was unbeaten at the tournament but had to come from behind to beat 16th-ranked Malaysia in a close final.

New Zealand had beaten Malaysia 4-2 in round-robin and finished the tournament with 30 goals and only six against.

Malaysia's only loss at the tournament were to New Zealand and it earned its final place with a 3-0 win over China.

Scotland, ranked No. 24, beat 13th-ranked China 7-5 in a penalty shootout Sunday to finish in third place while Austria beat Wales in a playoff for fifth.

The international field hockey federation was holding three seeded qualifying tournaments, with a spot at the World Cup starting Feb. 28 on offer for the winner of each.

Four-time champion Pakistan beat Japan last week in France to advance. A third qualifying tournament was behing held in Argentina.

India, Australia, Canada, England, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands and South Africa already had secured places at the 12-nation World Cup finals.

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