"In the first quarter they [India] were better than us on the ball speed, winning the one-on-one contests and we weren't making any steps so we were giving them every opportunity in the end," he said, stressing the importance of making intercepts particularly when the ball was hit with venomous intent. He felt there was a tendency for his women to let the ball through or lose control when trapping it.
"It's something we've got to work on in the next two days - making better intercepts."
Hager felt lethargy took hold of the tourists, resulting in the game "opening up a little bit".
"We moved the ball a bit quicker and made better decisions around the attacking circle so we got a little more clinical in getting behind so I thought that's where we hurt them.
"I thought they pressed us really well," said the Australian-born coach, mindful India took an attitude of nothing to lose by posting three strikers higher up the turf, enabling the Roelant Oltmans-coached side to counterattack in numbers.
"I thought we handled it pretty well because they didn't have too many shots at our goal in the second half."
He felt the Kiwis had shown India respect throughout the tourney, considering they were unlucky not to beat Australia in their scoreless draw in pool play.
"They had their one chance to score from a stroke and missed it but they held on to defend against Australia pretty well," he said, saluting India goalkeeper Savita for thwarting several choice shots yesterday in the face of formidable firepower in the hosts' arsenal.
Before the final game had started between the United States and South Korea, Hager felt both sides were going to be gritty semifinal oppositions.
"They [teams] are never easy and semifinals never are so we just need to focus on ourselves to make sure what we do is good."
Hager said his troops often talked about winning playoffs and last night was an incremental reinforcement of that.
"In the Champions Trophy we won a quarterfinal so now we've got to make sure we win a semifinal."
Oltmans said they were aware World No 4 New Zealand's ranking and home advantage were always going to pose hurdles for them.
"We started off very well and even took the lead so it wasn't until late in the second quarter that they went up," the Dutchman said after India captain Ritu Rani scored from a cleverly executed penalty corner in the sixth minute.
Stung into action, the Kiwis struck back a minute later through Petrea Webster, 1-1.
"It was the first signal that it was going to be a top evening," Oltmans said.
India's defence looked a little rattled from there into the second quarter despite sweeper Sushila Pukhrambam's efforts to conduct ceremony as her flanks squandered possession through unforced errors.
Olivia Merry made it 2-1 in the 29th minute after lurking near the left upright to pounce on a deft Jordan Grant flick into the circle to catch the defence on the hop.
India player Monika picked up a green card in the 42nd minute and the New Zealanders smelt blood as Merry claimed another goal, 3-1.
It came almost in slow-motion, pitch-wedge fashion. Merry's circle shot clipped the stick of a defender, balloon over the keeper's head to drop into the net.
It was almost Groundhog Day for the tourists in the 52nd minute when Amandeep Kaur picked up a green card but the India defence survived the circle raid.
With seven minutes to go, Deepika Deepika butchered a gilt-edged chance to pull a goal back after a series of one-two passes but conceded a foot foul in taking her final shot.
Two minutes later, Ella Gunson showed how it was done after latching on to a deflected shot in another circle raid for a 4-1 lead to put India out of their misery.
Oltmans was satisfied they had achieved their goals to be competitive and improve despite lacking a killer instinct.
"The intention is always there but they need to get into a habit that the moment you have a chance you have to take it and kill it."
Oltmans said having a robust midfield was great but goals were scored at the final third so they were looking at boosting both departments.
