Japan National Team crush Black Stick Development Squad by 4-2: Hockey Recap
New Zealand’s women development team was again beaten down by Japan by 4-2 in the second match played on May 26. This five Test series is being played conducted at the Gifu Green Stadium of Kakamigahara in Gifu, Japan.
In spite of the fact that the Black Sticks faced the same score loss, but they had shown an overall improvement in their game plan and execution. The team’s coach, Chris Leslie, agreed with the fact that they had improved their game against the Japanese
on the second day of the series.
The match opened with an offensive approach by the New Zealand's strikers who attempted five shots on the Japanese defensive goal-post within the first 12 minutes, but none of the attacks turned successful.
On the other hand, the Japanese national players succeeded in opening the score at 1-0 in the opening 6th minute, as a result of a deflection during the penalty corner attempt. This lead was soon contributed by another goal from the host team from the conversion
of their 10th minute penalty corner, taking the lead to 2-0.
In the 30th minute, the efforts put in by the guest team paid off when Jan Burrows deflected the drag flick by Kelsey Dunn during the penalty corner, reducing their trail to 1-2.
The first-half concluded with no more additions to the score-board at 2-1.
In the second half, the Kiwis added another count to the score-board on the 42nd minute mark when Anna Wetherall made a reverse-stick shot into the net on a deceptive pass from Krystal Forgesson, scoring the equaliser at 2-2.
Japan countered back with a lightning speed and gained back their two-goal lead, leaving the Black Stick spellbound and disappointed.
The Japanese outfit remained calm and composed through the rest of the game and added two more goals onto the score-board, of which the last one was scored in the 55th minute and the scores became 4-2.
Leslie said, “Our game structure and phases of play were much improved tonight compared to our first game on Tuesday. We were punished in the second phase of Japan’s penalty corners - we would make the first saves but they were superb in scoring off the
rebound.”
The second half closed at 4-2, with a second victory for Japan over New Zealand and the series being a solitary lead at 2-0.
The next three test matches will be played on May 28, 29 and 31 at the same venue in Gifu, Japan.
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