New Zealand came alive in the fourth quarter to beat Japan 2-1 in their opening game at the Champions Trophy women's hockey tournament in Argentina.
All three goals came in the space of four minutes at the start of the final quarter in Mendoza, with the world No.4 Black Sticks doing enough to see off their 10th-ranked opponents.
New Zealand enjoyed the superior chances through the first three quarters but it took until the 46th minute for the stalemate to be broken when Olivia Merry tapped in a long pass which the Japan defence had allowed to run deep into the circle.
Black Sticks goalkeeper Sally Rutherford was then caught badly out of position at the top of the circle, allowing Akiko Kato to score the equaliser from a Japan counter-attack.
A minute later New Zealand were back in front following a scramble from a penalty corner.
Ella Gunson's reverse stick shot was going wide of goal but was deflected in for an own goal by Japan defender Shiho Sakai.
New Zealand's next opponents on Sunday are top-ranked the Netherlands, who opened with a 2-0 defeat of fifth-ranked China.
Coach Mark Hager is overseeing a relatively inexperienced Black Sticks team who are missing four Test-hardened players - Kayla Whitelock, Emily Naylor, Gemma Flynn and Katie Glynn - for a variety of reasons.
NZN