Mark Hager knows exactly what facets of the game his New Zealand women's hockey team needs to address in today's match against world No 1 Argentina.
And the players will certainly need to address them if they are to stand any chance of causing an upset.
The Black Sticks made a disappointing start to the World League final tournament in Argentina yesterday, losing 2-0 to China.
New Zealand dominated all statistics other than the one that really counted and were left to lick a fair few wounds before their second match, against the world No 1-ranked hosts at 1pm today (NZT).
"I thought we were disappointing in the attacking third, we created enough opportunities to win the game but did not convert these," Hager said.
"Our basic skills also let us down and needs to improve as we move on in the tournament. Now we just need to refocus on the next challenge."
China, who at No 7 in the world are ranked three spots below the Kiwis, pounced early with a goal in the seventh minute from a penalty corner. They clung to the one-goal lead until nine minutes from fulltime when they nailed the Black Sticks' coffin closed with a goal from another penalty corner.
Despite New Zealand dominating the shots at goal (10-3), circle penetrations (18-9), possession (55 per cent to 45) and having five penalty corners of their own, the scoreline could actually have read worse for the Black Sticks. Kiwi goalkeeper Sally Rutherford saved a penalty stroke in the first half and China botched an open goal late in the match.
New Zealand had their chances but lacked China's clinical finishing touch.
Qiuxia Cui found herself in the right spot to pounce in the seventh minute after Rutherford had initially saved a penalty corner shot from Na Wang, while a mistrapped penalty corner with nine minutes remaining worked out well for China with the ball making its way to an unmarked Huang Ting to finish.
In other results, England hammered South Korea 6-2, the Netherlands swept aside Germany 6-0, and Australia held Argentina to a 1-1 draw.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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