Hong Kong can hold their heads high despite losing to New Zealand in a warm-up to next month's Women's Asia Cup at King's Park last night. A brave defence and a below-par pitch combined to restrict the Black Sticks to a 4-0 scoreline.
Losing with dignity to a top-notch side - the Kiwis are ranked 11th in the world - will be a morale-booster for the young Hong Kong team led capably by captain for the night Tessa Yung, who was at the heart of a stout defence which got better as the game progressed, conceding only one goal in the second half.
'To give away one goal in the second half against a world-class team is quite an achievement,' said Hong Kong coach Steve Rodrigues. 'Our focus was obviously on defence and how to take away the threat. I'm very happy with the way we played.'
It took New Zealand 11 minutes to get on the board when Kayla Sharland finally finding a way past Hong Kong goalkeeper Dora Lau Siu-ying. Two more goals followed in quick succession - Niniwa Roberts finding herself in space with only the keeper to beat and skipper Lizzy Igasan converting a penalty stroke - as the visitors led 3-0 at the break.
Fears of a total rampage in the second half were unfounded as the heat and humidity took its toll on the Black Sticks, who also failed to come to terms with the uneven and bouncy King's Park surface. And Hong Kong may have benefited as the Kiwis failed to convert 11 short corners.
'Hong Kong played well. They defended well. But we led to our own demise,' reflected New Zealand coach Kevin Towns on his side's failure to find the board from the penalty corners. It didn't matter last night as Hong Kong rarely threatened in attack. But when they come up against Asia big guns China and South Korea in two more practice matches next week, this could count.
