Coach John Herdman admitted it was a "bitter-sweet'' experience as the Football Ferns "froze'' and slumped to a 2-2 draw with Japan in the first salvoes of New Zealand's - and the world's - Olympic Games campaign.
The Kiwis were cruising at 2-0 after Kirsty Yallop packed a wallop with a 36th minute goal and Amber Hearn embellished the lead in the scond spell from the penalty spot at Qinhaungdao last night.But Japan - ranked ninth in the world to the Kiwis' 24th - struck back with two set-piece goals to snatch a share of spoils and rob the Ferns of a major upset.
Aya Miyama scored from the penalty spot and captain Humara Sawa struck at the near-post when the Ferns failed to check her run as late as the 86th minute.
The draw still ranks as New Zealand's best result at a major world women's tournament. But Herdman could hardly hide his disappointment despite saying people "probably would have laughed at you'' a year ago for daring to predict the Football Ferns would grab a draw in the opening round of an Olympic tournament.
"It's sweet that we got a 2-2 draw in our first game but I'm feeling bitter because I know these players can perform better than that.''
Herdman felt there was a "significant pyschological shift'' towards Japan after the Kiwis led 2-0 and he was left pondering whether "the nerves and emotions'' of being the first team to kick-off the 2008 Olympics may have weighed on his players' minds."I think the players froze with about 20-odd minutes to go.''
Herdman admitted the defending was slack for Sawa's late goal but he did not believe that cost the Ferns a win. He hailed his side's pace and willingness to attack but lamented their "first pass completion as the lowest we've had'' for some time.
Despite the draw New Zealand will still find it hard to advance to the second round - it meets former gold medallist Norway on Saturday and then faces Olympic champion the United States.But Herdman said the Ferns still had self-belief and felt they could take a top scalp. "It won't really be that hard (to lift the team).''
A Japanese defensive howler gifted the Kiwis a goal in the 36th minute. Pacy Ali Riley, the 20-year-old who showed no signs of her ankle injury, got in behind the defence down the right flank.
Her centre should have been cleared by Yukari Kinga but the Japanese defender let the ball run across her and Yallop bundled it home from close range.Shinobu Ohno had seemed set to score for Japan in the 32nd minute after breaching the off-side trap. But New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon flung herself to her left to parry a hard-hit shot for the first of several smart saves.
New Zealand doubled its lead in the 56th minute after South African referee Deidre Mitchell pointed to the penalty spot and produced a yellow card for some Japanese push and shove at a corner, although contact was minimal. Hearn hit the spotkick straight at Fukumoto but the keeper could not stop it.
Japan scored after 72 minutes from the penalty spot through Miyama after another mystifying Mitchell award against Ferns defender Abby Erceg. Herdman felt it was a soft decision because Erceg had only slightly shoved a Japanese striker. But he said the New Zealanders may have "shown a little naivety'' in critical situations. Miayama supplied the freekick for Sawa's killer goal.