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BEIJING - Coach Kevin Towns has accused Olympic hockey officials of favouritism, believing his women's side were robbed during last night's 1-2 loss to Germany.
Towns was outraged by a video umpire call that allowed the Germans to draw level 10 minutes from the end of a dour struggle, a decision that swung the momentum of a game the Black Sticks looked like snatching from the world's third-ranked side.
Salt was rubbed in the wound 80 seconds from the end when Anke Kuehn struck the winner - a body blow to New Zealand's campaign after losing by the same scoreline to Japan in their opening pool B match on Thursday.
Veteran coach Towns was livid at a number of decisions but most importantly the goal to Katharina Scholz.
It was scored moments after German midfielder Eileen Hoffman slid into the goal area, taking out the stick of New Zealand captain Lizzy Igasan who protested immediately.
Towns turned red when video umpire Stella Bartlema of the Netherlands awarded the goal after nearly 10 viewings of the incident.
He was adamant Igasan had been impeded.
"If the incident has occurred, accidentally or not, they have to rule it as no goal," Towns said.
"The infringement's seen so therefore the goal shouldn't be scored."
The replay was clear cut in Towns' eyes and came after a handful of other fringe decisions, prompting Towns to question the bias of umpires Anne McRae of Great Britain and Soledad Iparruguirre of Argentina.
"Personally, I think it's a top-four decision, I'm prepared to say that," he said.
"Quite often the tough decisions go with the teams in the top four and you don't get the rub of the green."
Towns also believed German defender Tina Bachmann should have earned more than a green card for a deliberate foul to stop a 45th minute New Zealand counter attack.
"It was wrong and also they should have had a player sent off... it's pretty hard to swallow."
When Towns found time to analyse the game, he praised an improved performance and expressed frustration that they were the only team without a point after two rounds.
The Germans hammered Great Britain 5-1 on Sunday but Towns said their approach last night was negative.
"We thought we would hold on. I thought Germany panicked," he said.
"If you talk about boring hockey, I thought they smashed the ball into the circle I don't know how many times. If that's how hockey's going to be played then people may not watch if for long."
New Zealand were at their best in the first half and deserved to lead after Forgesson latched onto a loose ball in the circle following a Niniwa Roberts penalty corner blast in the 31st minute.
Germany had the better of the second spell but only really threatened when capitalising on poor clearance work from the New Zealand defence.
Both goals came from lost possession, with the second one meaning wins are now crucial in their next matches against Great Britain on Thursday and the United States on Saturday.
"It might have been a bit boring in places but I think they played pretty well and showed that we should be here," Towns said.
"Not only should we be here but we should have a point by now."
- NZPA
