KUALA LUMPUR: South Africa pulled off a great escape act in regulation time before knocking out New Zealand in a sudden death penalty shootout in a ninth-10th placing match of the Junior World Cup at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Hans Neethling was South Africa's hero as he scored the winner in sudden death.
Both teams were tied 3-3 in regulation time and the Africans won the shootout 4-3.
South Africa will face Belgium in the ninth-10th placing match on Friday while New Zealand will meet Malaysia in the 11th-12th placing playoff.
The Kiwis started well by taking a 3-0 lead with goals through Aiden Bax (11th), Sam Lints (13th) and James Hickson (34th).
But South Africa, who finished eighth and last in the Sultan of Johor Cup last month, came back strongly with three goals in the last two quarters.
Neethling scored in the (34th, 49th) while Ayakha Mthalane (40th) got the other one.
In the first penalty shootout, both the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 and in sudden death, Neethling scored while New Zealand's Jonty Elmes failed to convert.
South Africa coach Guy Elliott said: "We had a sloppy match in the first quarter but my boys really fought hard in the last two quarters to come back from three down to snatch a draw."