Seven-goal thriller sees Black Sticks triumph over Red Sticks 

New Zealand women got their Rabobank Hockey World Cup campaign off to the best possible start with a 4-3 victory over their lower-ranked rivals Belgium, but it was not the straightforward victory the Black Sticks seemed to be heading for over their more inexperienced rivals. A 3-0 half-time lead was almost overturned as the Red Panthers showed their mettle and determination to fight back.

Krystal Forgesson (20') put her team ahead with a deflected goal following a drag flick from Anita Punt and it was Forgesson again just six minutes later scoring her second in almost identical fashion. Punt, who worked tirelessly throughout the first half, drag-flicked her shot and Forgesson swooped on the dipping ball to slam it past Aisling D'Hooghe in the Red Panther's goal.

The remainder of the first half was one-way traffic, with the Belgium squad offering little resistance and Black Sticks could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas believing the job to be done.

The second half began with more pressure from New Zealand. The Black Sticks added their fourth goal through captain Kayla Whitelock (44'), after she batted the ball into the goal following a save by D'Hooghe. However, Belgium refused to give up and two goals in quick succession from Barbara Nelen (46') and Emilie Sinia (49') set the scene for an exciting final 20 minutes.

With Sally Rutherford in the New Zealand goal exhorting her team to calm down, New Zealand seemed to have put a stop to the Belgium resurgence, but a penalty corner turned to a penalty stroke, which Stephanie De Groof (55') dispatched with ease. 

New Zealand survived two more penalty corners from the Red Panthers and their greater international experience stood them in good stead as they contained the Belgium attack for the last quarter of the game, with Emily Naylor holding the defence and Gemma Flynn and Stacey Michelsen creating pressure on both flanks.

There was more drama in the dying minutes of the game as D'Hooghe was forced to make a diving save as Punt broke through on goal and then minutes later, the same keeper saved a flying shot from Samantha Charlton.

When the final whistle sounded, the Black Sticks will have been relieved to have escaped a Red Panther revival. Double goal-scorer for the Black Sticks, Krystal Forgesson said after the game: "We got off to a good start and our penalty corners went well. We didn't get any corners in the second half and Belgium showed a lot of determination to get back at us. This is something we need to look at, because we were fortunate to have made the most of our chances early on."

This was a point that Aisling D'Hooghe agreed with: "We played well in the second half, but chasing four goals was always going to be difficult. We showed a lot of character, but letting New Zealand get off to such a good start was a sign this was our first World Cup. We won't take a half to be ready next time."

Official Match Report (PDF)