The New Zealand women’s hockey team outplayed China 3-0 today, but in doing so gave themselves a particularly difficult quarter-final draw.
Kayla Whitelock’s New Zealand side must now play Australia, who could only finish third in their pool. Though their results in Rio have been only average so far, Australia remain a difficult proposition and New Zealand will need to be at their best to get past them.
The New Zealanders, fourth place-getters at the 2012 London Olympics, can certainly take heart from today’s effort.
The Chinese have proved a tricky team in Rio, but New Zealand scored one goal after 21 minutes, courtesy of Olivia Merry, and added two more in quick succession in the second spell.
Gemma Flynn scored after 41 minutes and within seconds Anita McLaren had added the coup de gras.