3 Jun 2014

Black Sticks women beaten by South Korea

1:07 pm on 3 June 2014

The New Zealand women's hockey team has been beaten 1-0 by South Korea in their latest pool match at the World Cup in the Netherlands.

The Koreans scored just before half-time and while the Black Sticks battled hard, they simply couldn't find an equalising goal.

The Black Sticks had their best scoring opportunity from a penalty corner with 16 minutes remaining but Anita Punt's powerful drag flick went just wide of the right post.

With one win and one loss so far at the tournament, the next three pool games against Netherlands, Australia and Japan become extra important with the semi-finals looming.

Head coach Mark Hager says the way they lost was the most disappointing thing, as they had no fight in them.

Hager says they were outplayed and the Koreans deserved to win the game.

The Black Sticks' next match is against hosts the Netherlands on Thursday morning.