The Football Ferns have gone down 2-0 to Japan in their Paris Olympics warm-up friendly in Spain on Saturday.
New Zealand's defence held firm against the world No. 7 ranked side until stoppage time in the first half, when a neat interplay of passes around the Ferns box found Tanaka, who finished neatly past goalkeeper Anna Leat to give Japan the advantage at the interval.
Just moments into the second half, Japan doubled their lead. A corner was swung in from Kitagawa and found Koga at the back post, who had lost her marker for an easy headed finish low into the Ferns goal.
Assistant Michael Mayne oversaw the match in the absence of head coach Jitka Klimkova, who is on leave while an investigation is conducted into an "employment-related matter."
Mayne said he was pleased with the way the ferns adapted to the challenge against the World Cup quarter-finalists.
"Once we adjusted to some of the problems they were posing us and were able to figure out how to get good ball in the middle third, I actually think we played really well," said Mayne.
"Obviously a world class side like Japan will really punish us if we get small things wrong, so we expected that. But I thought the reaction to those moments was really good."
The teams will meet again in Murcia on Tuesday monring.
The Football Ferns have gone down 2-0 to Japan in their Paris Olympics warm-up friendly in Spain on Saturday.
New Zealand's defence held firm against the world No. 7 ranked side until stoppage time in the first half, when a neat interplay of passes around the Ferns box found Tanaka, who finished neatly past goalkeeper Anna Leat to give Japan the advantage at the interval.
Just moments into the second half, Japan doubled their lead. A corner was swung in from Kitagawa and found Koga at the back post, who had lost her marker for an easy headed finish low into the Ferns goal.
Assistant Michael Mayne oversaw the match in the absence of head coach Jitka Klimkova, who is on leave while an investigation is conducted into an "employment-related matter."
Mayne said he was pleased with the way the ferns adapted to the challenge against the World Cup quarter-finalists.
"Once we adjusted to some of the problems they were posing us and were able to figure out how to get good ball in the middle third, I actually think we played really well," said Mayne.
"Obviously a world class side like Japan will really punish us if we get small things wrong, so we expected that. But I thought the reaction to those moments was really good."
The teams will meet again in Murcia on Tuesday monring.
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