New Zealand crashed to a 0-4 defeat against China in the second and final women's soccer international in Guangzhou last night.
Skipper Hayley Moorwood was at a loss to explain the big defeat to the Olympic hosts.
"It's tough. The gutting thing is that people will see the
score line and imagine a different game," Moorwood said.
"We now know we can dominate a team like that but it still hurts not to come a way with anything for all of that possession."
New Zealand went looking for a goal from the start, but found themselves 0-1 down after 25 minutes when Maia Jackman overhit a backpass that lobbed over her own keeper.
New Zealand recovered to find their passing rhythm, dominating the World Cup quarterfinalists for large spells before being caught on the break by Han Duan on the hour mark.
Still pushing for a goal, but with a lack of conditioning beginning to show, New Zealand were caught twice more by the Chinese in the final fifteen minutes.
"We know we've got to score," New Zealand coach John Herdman said.
"We've changed our approach from having to defend in the past and while we turned a corner tonight in terms of the possession stakes and also controlling the tempo of a game, we're still shy in front of goal."
New Zealand, who lost the first match 0-1, are back in camp in February to prepare for a series against Australia.
Scores
China 4
New Zealand 0
- NZPA
