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Australia July 2
So Near Yet So Far For Narrowly Beaten Kiwis
by Jeremy Ruane
For the second time in three internationals against Australia, the New Zealand women's football squad have run The Matildas desperately close before bowing 1-0 to their arch-rivals.
That was the outcome in the teams' second clash in Canberra in February, and it was the case again at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour on July 22, as a Lisa DeVanna goal in the 24th minute proved the difference on the scoreboard between the long-time queens of Oceania women's football and their successors to that throne.
The Matildas' speedster took advantage of a misunderstanding between Abby Erceg and Maia Jackman to swoop onto a raking clearance from Melissa Barbieri and drill it past the advancing Jenny Bindon for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
It shouldn't have been, for while the Australians had opportunities, so, too, did the Kiwis, much to the delight of coach John Herdman. “We worked really hard with the players' confidence going into this game, and told them that they've got to start believing in themselves and playing football.
“And they did. They put the fear of failure out of their heads, broke the shackles and started playing - it was a real pleasure to watch. At times we were stringing up to fifteen passes together, and we created our share of clear-cut chances as well, the pick of which saw Rebecca Tegg through one-on-one with the `keeper”.
The striker, who made her debut on this two-match tour, pleased Herdman with the elements she brought to the squad. “She did well. She brought a bit of a dimension to the team - an X factor - with her ability to turn defenders and run between centre backs and fullbacks.
“She outpaced the Australian centre backs on a couple of occasions, which was really pleasing. She's only been in the programme a couple of months, and she's still got a lot to do fitness-wise, but she's where I wanted her to be right now”.
Tegg wasn't the only one to catch the eye, however. Goalkeeper Bindon had “her best international tour” in the coach's eyes, while the sight of Marlies Oostdam overlapping down the left was a reflection of the squad's new-found confidence.
“Rebecca Smith took a nasty whack on the ankle early on, and the way she, Hayley Moorwood - fresh from her recent knee operation - and Priscilla Duncan soldiered on despite these concerns showed how much wearing the New Zealand shirt means to them.
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“It was very much a team effort”, Herdman continued. “They've all done well, stood up and performed on this tour. Until now, we've been scared to exert ourselves, but we don't want to be a team which scrapes a draw here and there.
“Today, they really looked like they had the confidence to get the result, and with a bit more experience, we'll get those results. I'm really proud of what the squad has achieved on this tour, and this performance is a great way to end it - there's some real positivity there”.
Seasoned campaigner Maia Jackman has yet to experience the pleasure of beating Australia in her 36-cap career, but knows that New Zealand is getting closer by the game, on the evidence of this tour.
“It's been really good. And we performed really well today. It wasn't a case of defending all game long, we played some good football. And while there's still lots of work to do, we know we've taken a big step forward today”.
None of the Matildas who started Thursday's encounter between the teams began Sunday's match, with coach Tom Sermanni taking the opportunity to hand debuts to three players as both teams continued their preparations for September's FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in China.
New Zealand's preparations for China continue with an international against the USA at Chicago's Soldier Field in three weeks' time, a match which is being televised live on ESPN on August 13 at 5am NZ time.
It's the focal point of a two-match tour of the world's foremost women's football-playing nation, which also sees the Kiwis taking on FC Indiana, a leading Women's Premier Soccer League combination, in Indianapolis.
At this stage, those games will be New Zealand's final fixtures prior to the Finals, where they take on Brazil, Denmark - both game are in Wuhan - and China in Tianjin in Group D action.
Australia: Melissa Barbieri; Clare Polkinghorne, Kim Carroll, Louisa Bisbi, Karla Reuter (Amy Chapman, 54); Ellen Beaumont, Amber Neilson, Lauren Colthorpe, Jo Burgess (Lana Harch, 80); Lisa DeVanna, Kate Gill
New Zealand: Jenny Bindon; Abby Erceg, Maia Jackman, Rebecca Smith (Ria Percival, 65), Marlies Oostdam; Hayley Moorwood (Emily McColl, 55), Priscilla Duncan (Rebecca Sowden, 65), Katie Hoyle; Michele Clarke (Merissa Smith, 75), Rebecca Tegg, Ali Riley
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