Hockey: Heat on after first-up hiding

By DAVID LEGGAT

ATHENS - It doesn't get any easier for the New Zealand men's hockey team after their disappointing 4-1 first-up Olympic loss to Australia last night.

New Zealand fancied their chances of getting something out of this game against the world No 3, but instead were off the pace, gifted possession away too often and paid the price. The shot count told a significant story - 11-2 in Australia's favour.

Next up New Zealand play world No 2 and defending Olympic champions the Netherlands on Wednesday morning (NZ time). The New Zealanders have aimed to get at least one point from their first two games. Last night's result puts the heat on against a traditionally formidable opposition.

"The Dutch are a huge hockey nation, they've got some wonderful players and we're going to have to hang on, not concede penalty corners and be a bit more composed," New Zealand coach Kevin Towns said.

What they can't do is hand the Dutch a goal with the same generosity as defender Dion Gosling did against the Australians last night.

Already 1-0 down courtesy of a low drive from a penalty corner by Troy Elder after 15 minutes, Gosling pushed the ball into slippery forward Jamie Dwyer's path and he capitalised with a strong reverse stick shot.

An impromptu haka from the New Zealand supporters in the crowd at the start of the second half didn't help with the third goal coming soon after the restart. It was the killer as far as the 11th ranked New Zealanders were concerned.

Dwyer dived forward to nudge the ball in from close range on seven minutes.

There was a smartly worked goal from Darren Smith to reduce the deficit 12 minutes from the end, deflecting a penalty corner shot deliberately driven just wide of the goal by David Kosoof before Dwyer picked up his third.