New Zealand 2 Argentina 1
New Zealand bounced back from a second-test drubbing to down world champions Argentina in a stunning turnaround last night.
Played as a tribute match - at the specific request of the players - to Amanda Hooper (nee Christie) who died in the Christchurch earthquake, the home team, some of whom had played with Hooper, rode the emotion and eventually snatched a dramatic victory to square the series.
There was, New Zealand coach Mark Hager admitted, "some hard talking yesterday morning" after Monday's dreadful 6-1 drubbing.
"We went from woeful to clinical," said Hager in savouring a third straight unbeaten series. "That was right up there with the best performance I have seen from the girls. I'm sure there was a bit of emotion out there and they responded to that."
From the outset, the Black Sticks, taking a huge step up from that second-up shocker, refused to back off, matching the world champions blow-for-blow.
The Argentines again proved elusive in deftly turning defence into attack with their trademark long-passing game, but this time the determined New Zealand defence refused to budge and were not intimidated as they defused a number of promising attacks.
Led by inspirational co-captain Kayla Sharland, New Zealand gave away little in midfield, with Sharland twice in the first half firing in reverse stick shots which threatened to reward a spirited Black Sticks effort.
Her second, seven minutes before the break, won her team's first penalty corner but that, like four for the visitors, failed to find the goal.
Argentina's best chances came when - especially early in the game - they isolated the New Zealand defenders and found unmarked players in dangerous forward positions but they were denied by a combination of some superb goalkeeping from Sally Rutherford and canny defending from Emily Naylor and Sophie Devine.
After a goal-less first half, the hectic pace continued with Sharland, a close friend of Hooper and determined to make it a memorable occasion, playing a pivotal role.
She enjoyed untiring support from Ella Gunson in midfield and Stacey Michelsen as the attacking force.
After sharing four early second-half penalty corners, the Black Sticks broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when, from a second successive penalty corner, Clarissa Eshuis dragged high and hard to beat goalkeeper Julia Simonassi.
Stung, the visitors hit back in a like manner eight minutes later when Daniela Sruoga dragged her effort just inside Rutherford's right-hand post.
Determined to have the last say, New Zealand went back on to attack in a super end-to-end move in added time, the ball eventually fell to Cathryn Finlayson who smacked home a stunner to maintain her goal-a-game series record.
Sharland, who before the match presented Hooper's husband Ritchie and daughters Aimee and Keily with a signed and framed Black Sticks shirt, said it rated as one of her best moments in more than 100 internationals.
"It was tough at the start but we rode the emotion," said Sharland. "We were pretty angry after the second test but this helps erase those memories."
