Black Sticks Women’s Development Team defeat Japan National Women’s Team, 3-2: Hockey News
The Black Sticks Women’s Development Team eventually managed to score their first victory in the ongoing five Test match series, against Japanese national side, which is being played at Gifu Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, and conclude on Tuesday,
May 31.
Kiwis’ performance in the half first was exceptional comparing to their first three games of the series. Just after four minutes of start of the play, New Zealanders opened their account when Forgesson flicked the ball into the net. The second goal of the
game was scored in 15th minute when Jan Burrows made it a perfect score and put her team ahead of Japan. The score, at the end of first half was 2-0 to Kiwis.
“The physical effort by all players was extremely impressive. The aspects of the game that we have been working on – the presses on attack, control of the ball, as well as our constant pressure on defence – really came together tonight. We were on attack
the whole time in the first half, with Japan having very few real opportunities to score,” Chris Leslie, the coach of Black Sticks Women’s Development Team stated after the match.
In the second half, Japanese came back strongly by scoring their first goal in 41st minute and they took 16 minutes more to level the score in the 57th minute. The Kiwis did not seem more dominant as in the first half, but just few
minutes after the equaliser from Japan, they scored their third and final of the match. This time it was Petrea Webster. The match closed at 3-2 to New Zealand.
“The team stuck to the game plan tonight, they were disciplined in their approach and were awarded with a superb goal to win the game,” Chris Leslie further added on their victory.
The match, originally, was to be held on Sunday, May 29, but due to some heavy rain it was postponed until today. The fifth and the final match of the series, between the two teams, will be played tomorrow on May 31, at the same venue. Japan is leading the
series by 2-1 while one of the four games ended in a draw.
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