A slow start and heartbreaking finish have seen the women’s Black Sticks finish hockey's champions’ trophy with a 4-3 loss to Japan.
The extra time defeat means New Zealand finish sixth.
After a lacklustre first half saw Japan lead 2-0 in the fifth place playoff, the Black Sticks’ comeback started five minutes into the second spell, Katie Glynn deflecting Kayla Sharland.
Sharland was deflected again from a penalty corner for New Zealand to tie the scores, until an unmarked Kaori Fujio put Japan back in front.
Two minutes from full-time, Glynn scored from a penalty corner to force the match into extra time.
But it was Japan’s Rika Komazawa who secured the golden goal.
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