KEY POINTS:
BEIJING - New Zealand ended women's hockey pool play last night with their best effort of the Olympic Games, a 2-3 loss to semifinalists Argentina.
Already consigned to the wooden spoon in pool B after losses to Japan, Germany, Great Britain and the United States, New Zealand troubled Argentina for the full 70 minutes.
A plan to cut down the ball supply to Luciana Aymar and Agustina Garcia worked a treat, frustrating the South Americans, who finished second in the pool.
Down 0-1 after 15 minutes, the Black Sticks turned on some of their best hockey in the first half, to level two minutes before halftime.
Emily Naylor hit in a long ball from the top of the circle, which Niniwa Roberts deflected past goalkeeper Belen (correct) Succi.
While the Black Sticks had harried and bothered the South Americans, they conceded two goals three minutes to hand Argentina a 3-1 lead with 24 minutes to play.
New Zealand were very unhappy with the second goal, scored by Garcia, which they felt should not have been awarded.
Assistant coach Paul Derham told NZPA the narrow loss to a class side would built confidence.
"We were much happier about that, for sure," he said.
"It was about putting some confidence back into the girls."
New Zealand lost narrowly to the two top sides in the pool - Germany and Argentina - only to lose games they had targeted to win, against Great Britain and the United States.
"That's made it all the more frustrating for us," Denham said.
"We lost games we had been targeting for four years; for the teams you need to beat, you need to step it up a few notches."
After captain Lizzy Igasan gave the Black Sticks hope with a 61st minute penalty corner, it was left to Succi to save the day for her side as time ran out.
With three minutes left New Zealand twice got one on one with the goalkeeper, and twice Succi parried away goal-bound shots with the defence well beaten.
Argentina had only one more shot at goal than New Zealand, whose last game of the tournament will be against South Africa in the 11th and 12th playoff.
Like New Zealand, South Africa went through pool play without picking up a point.
Germany won the pool from Argentina.
- NZPA
