New Zealand hit ground running

Match Review NZL - KOR 3-1

Watch clips from the New Zealand - South Korea gam…Posted December 5, 2015

On the day that Sally Rutherford celebrated her 100th cap in the Black Sticks colours, the New Zealand team got off to a cracking start with a 3-1 win over Korea.

The scoring opened when Pippa Hayward (4') took the ball at the top of circle and smashed the ball past Jang Soo Ji to make it 1-0. This bright start by the players in black continued through the first quarter, but after the break Korea began to get back in the game with some good incursions into the New Zealand circle.

Rutherford was called on to make two good saves but was well-beaten when Cheon Eun Bi's shot skimmed the post. Cho Hye Jin was unable to claim the rebound and the teams went into the break with New Zealand leading through a sole goal.

The second half continued in much the same fashion. Sophie Cocks was dominant in midfield and set up chances for Gemma Flynn and Stacey Michelsen, but to no avail as Korea threw bodies behind the ball. A penalty corner to New Zealand was Anita Punt's chance to make her mark early in the tournament, but the resulting shot was easily saved by Jang Soo Ji.

Speaking at the half-time break, New Zealand Mark Hager coach said that it was important to turn the possession into goals as Korea were a fit side who could potentially run the New Zealand side ragged and score late in the game.

Kirsten-Leigh Pearce (37') duly obliged when a good cross from Olivia Merry split the Korea defence and Pearce was able to steer the ball home. A mirror move nearly made it three when Park Mi Hyun slipped a penalty corner just wide. New Zealand played a quick ball down the right and Olivia Merry put in a cross that found Sophie Cocks. Cocks shot and scored but was adjudged to have fouled.

The final quarter saw New Zealand protect their lead with some tenacious tackling and quick breaks.They sealed the win with a well-taken penalty corner routine with Ella Gunson slipping the ball to Gemma Flynn (48'), who was waiting at the far post.

Korea scored a consolation goal as Seo Jung Eun (58') put away a penalty corner but as the clock counted down, New Zealand can pat themselves on a job done, while Korea will need to work out how to turn hard work into goals.

As she received her award from Hager after the game, Sally Rutherford said: "It was emotional, not every goal keeper enjoys a long career. So it's important to be here today.

"We played some good hockey today, although we have some things to change before the next game."

#HWL2015 #MakeYourMark

Goals

Team	Minute	Shirt #	Player	Action	Score
NZL	4	26	HAYWARD Pippa	FG	1 - 0
NZL	37	18	PEARCE Kirsten	FG	2 - 0
NZL	48	22	FLYNN Gemma	PC	3 - 0
KOR	58	4	SEO Jung Eun	PC	3 - 1

Cards

Team	Minute	Shirt #	Player	Type
KOR	41	3	KIM Ji Eun	G

NZL

Minute	Shirt #	Name	Goals
X	4	MERRY Olivia
X	6	WEBSTER Petrea
X	8	RUTHERFORD Sally
X	9	NEAL Brooke
4	12	GUNSON Ella
X	13	CHARLTON Samantha
X	16	THOMPSON Liz
X	17	COCKS Sophie
4	18	PEARCE Kirsten	1
Bench	21	BARNETT Georgia
X	22	FLYNN Gemma	1
2	23	HARRISON Charlotte
4	24	KEDDELL Rose
4	25	SMITH Kelsey
X	26	HAYWARD Pippa	1
36	30	HENRY Kathryn
X	31	MICHELSEN Stacey
X	32	PUNT Anita

KOR

Minute	Shirt #	Name	Goals	Green
X	1	JANG Soo Ji
4	3	KIM Ji Eun		1
X	4	SEO Jung Eun	1
6	5	JANG Hee Sun
X	6	LEE Young Sil
X	7	PARK Seung A
X	8	AN Hyo Ju
X	9	HAN Hye Lyoung
4	10	PARK Mi Hyun
X	12	KIM Da Rae
X	13	CHEON Eun Bi
4	14	HONG Yoo Jin
X	18	KIM Bomi
X	19	OH Sun Soon
4	20	KIM Hyun Ji
X	21	KIM Ok Ju
Bench	22	JUNG Heabin
4	24	CHO Hye Jin

DNP = Did not participate
S = Suspended
DSQ = Disqualified

Match Officials

Role	Official
Umpire 1	BLOCK Frances
Umpire 2	GIDDENS Maggie
Reserve Umpire	PRESENQUI Irene
Video Umpire	METCHETTE Carol
Judge 1	TAKEDA Alicia
Judge 2	AKII-BUA Nataki
Technical Officer	PIGRETTI Laura

Pool A

Pool B

NZL V KOR ( Pool A ) Hockey World League Final Rosario 2015