Black Sticks crash to Australia at hockey World Cup

New Zealand were taught lessons in ruthlessness and discipline as they crashed to a 4-1 loss to Australia at the women's hockey World Cup in Rosario, Argentina.

New Zealand consistently threatened Australia's goal and created several clear-cut scoring chances with the scores tied at 1-1, but they failed to capitalise and paid the price as Australia scored three goals in the final 13 minutes to run out comfortable winners.

The last two goals were scored while Stacey Michelsen, who had otherwise been impressive for New Zealand, was in the sin bin.

Following earlier losses to Germany and the Netherlands and a draw with Japan, world No 7 New Zealand must now beat India in their final pool A match on Wednesday morning (NZ time) to avoid playing off for 11th in the 12-team competition.

Ashleigh Nelson grabbed a late second half double for Australia, sandwiching Shelley Liddelow's strike, as the world's fifth-ranked team capitalised on Michelsen's absence. Gemma Flynn and Katie Glynn also spent time on the sidelines for the losers, who played well for long periods but rued the temporary loss of those players and missed opportunities.

New Zealand, who had beaten Australia in Oceania group qualifying for the tournament, started well and struck the first blow after a wide sweeping attack in the fifth minute.

Some neat work down the left wing from Stacey Carr, Charlotte Harrison and Piki Hamahona, the final provider with a brilliant one-touch pass, was expertly capitalised on by Krystal Forgesson, who slotted her fifth goal of the tournament.

But Australia didn't take long to get a foothold in the match and they equalised from their first penalty in the 12th minute when Kobie McGurk squeezed a shot between New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeliet and fullback Emily Naylor.

Jurgeliet was then called on to make two top saves but New Zealand also had their moments in an end-to-end first half in which possession and scoring chances were evenly shared.

Forgesson came close to snaring a second goal but couldn't make contact with the ball when the slightest of deflections would likely have been enough to beat Rachel Lynch in the Australian goal, while Harrison blew the best opportunity of the half when she blasted a close range shot over the top after a pinpoint cross from Michelsen.

New Zealand tired in the second half but defended well - Jurgeliet made another top class save to deny Nelson a hat-trick - until the final stanza, in which Australia were relentless.

- NZPA