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Late Goals See Scots Sink Ferns In Cyprus
by Jeremy Ruane
The Football Ferns' quest to win a maiden Cyprus Cup got off to an undesirable start at the A. Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca on March 1, as they were edged 3-2 by Scotland in their opening Group B encounter.
Playing their first match since the Olympic Games, against a nation targeting a good showing at the UEFA Women's Championships later this year, Tony Readings' charges were denied an early goal by Shannon Lynn's point-blank range save in the sixth minute.
Three minutes later, the Scots took the lead. A probing cross from the left found Christie Murray in between defenders, and she hit the crossbar from twelve yards. The ball bounced down into the stride of Jane Ross, who rammed the ball into the top far corner, giving Erin Nayler no chance.
It took twelve minutes for the Football Ferns to restore parity, with Rosie White rewarded for her prowling role in the new-look 3-4-3 formation with which the Kiwis were experimenting.
Upon receipt of a back-pass, Lynn allowed White to close her down, and the former Liverpool striker mercilessly punished the goalkeeper's blunder to bring about parity.
That was the catalyst for the black-clad Football Ferns to grow into the match, and they created their fair share of chances against opponents whose only other threat prior to half-time saw Lisa Evans blaze over from ten yards with just Nayler to beat.
After the break, with half-time substitutes Hannah Wilkinson and Catherine Bott adding extra impetus, the Kiwis took it to their opponents, but failed to take any of the numerous opportunities they created, for which they paid the price inside the last ten minutes.
Six minutes from time, Betsy Hassett headed a Fiona Brown cross to seeming safety, only for teenage substitute Erin Cuthbert to out-muscle Abby Erceg before latching onto the ball and thundering a twenty-five yarder beyond the diving figure of Nayler into the corner of the net.
Anna Signeul's side, bolstered by that blockbuster, Scotland extended their advantage still further two minutes later. Bott was caught in possession on half-way, and Brown was instantly released down the left.
She got the better of Rebekah Stott in the penalty area before picking out the fast-arriving figure of Kim Little ten yards out, and in line with the far post. Scotland's captain slammed the ball home to seemingly put the game beyond doubt.
The Football Ferns didn't give up, however, and following an Anna Green corner, the ball was cleared to Wilkinson, who directed it to Bott. The fullback lobbed a cross to the far post where the unmarked figure of Amber Hearn ghosted in to head home her 53rd goal for her country.
This one proved too late to stave off an opening day defeat for the Football Ferns, whose finishing was once more their downfall in a game where they played well, and hit the post just prior to netting their second goal.
Scotland: Lynn; F. Brown, Murray (Smith, 88), Beattie, Mitchell; Evans (Love, 61), Crichton (Weir, 82), Little, Lauder (Arnot, 61); Ross (Cuthbert, 61), Murray (F. Brown, 78)
Football Ferns: Nayler; Moore (Green, 65), Erceg, Stott; Percival (Bott, 46), Longo (Hassett, 71), Bowen, Riley; Pereira (Wilkinson, 46), Hearn, White (Satchell, 86)
In the other Group B encounter, which followed the Football Ferns' match at the A. Papadopoulos Stadium, Austria held Korea Republic to a scoreless draw.
In Group A action in Nicosia, a resurgent DPR Korea handed Italy a 3-0 hiding before Belgium and Switzerland battled out a 2-2 draw, with the latter coming from behind to earn a point, having opened the scoring through Caroline Abbe in the 26th minute.
Lien Mermans levelled the scores five minutes later, and when Janice Cayman fired them in front twelve minutes from time, the Swiss looked done for. Selina Kuster had other ideas, however, and levelled the scores with two minutes remaining.
The North Koreans scored their goals early in each half, the first coming within five minutes of the kick-off. Two further strikes in the first seven minutes of the second spell put paid to Antonio Cabrini's charges.
Eire and Wales scored 2-0 victories over the Czech Republic and Hungary respectively in their Group C encounters in Paralimni. Irish eyes were smiling thanks to goals from Stephanie Roche and substitute Aine O'Gorman, their efforts marking a winning debut for new coach Colin Bell.
And on St David's Day, it was fitting that the Welsh
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prevailed over Hungary, their goals coming from Helen Ward, their all-time leading goalscorer, and Charlie Estcourt.
Matchday Two action on Saturday, NZ time, sees the Football Ferns taking on Austria in Nicosia from 1.30am, a game which has must-win connotations written all over it for Tony Readings' side if they harbour hopes of contesting the Cyprus Cup Final.
That match will be followed by the clash of Scotland and Korea Republic at GSP Stadium. Meanwhile in Larnaca, the Swiss take on the North Koreans before the Italians and the Belgians square off, while in Paralimni, Wales meet the Czech Republic prior to Eire's clash with Hungary.
Cyprus Cup details:
Austria 0, Korea Republic 0
Belgium 2 (L. Mermans (31) J. Cayman (78)), Switzerland 2 (C. Abbe (26), S. Kuster (88)) HT 1-1
DPR Korea 3, Italy 0 HT 1-0
Czech Republic 0, Eire 2 (S. Roche (24), A. O'Gorman (88)) HT 0-1
Hungary 0, Wales 2 (H. Ward (35), C. Estcourt (67)) HT 0-1
Scotland 3 (J. Ross (9), E. Cuthbert (84), K. Little (86)), Football Ferns 2 (R. White (21), A. Hearn (90)) HT 1-1
At the Algarve Cup, close scorelines were the order of the day on Matchday One, with odd-goal victories occurring in all but one of the six fixtures. The biggest surprise of the day saw Spain stun Japan 2-1 in Parchal, with Silvia Mesegeur opening the scoring on the hour.
Olga Garcia Perez doubled Spain's advantage eighteen minutes from time, and while Kumi Yokoyama pulled one back for Nadeshiko Japan nine minutes later, the former world champions were unable to stave off an opening Group B defeat.
Also in Group B, Norway and Iceland fought out a 1-1 draw in Parchal, with the scoring confined to the first eight minutes of the contest. Ada Hegerberg gave the Norwegians a fourth minute lead, but just four minutes later, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir levelled the scores for the Icelandics.
In Group A, Olesya Mashina's goal four minutes from time earned Russia a 1-0 win over host nation Portugal in Lagos, while reigning champions Canada left it even later to get the better of Denmark at the same venue, Christine Sinclair's stoppage time winner earning John Herdman's charges a 1-0 triumph.
1-0 scorelines were also the way of things in Group C action in Albufeira, with Renate Jansen's thirteenth minute goal earning Holland victory over China, before Australia succumbed to a Lotta Schelin strike on the hour as they were beaten by Olympic silver medallists Sweden.
The teams head to new venues for Matchday Two action on Saturday morning, NZ time, with Group C action taking place at Vila Real Sto Antonio. The Matildas take on Holland before China play Sweden.
In Algarve, Russia and Canada clash prior to the meeting of Spain and Norway, while in Parchal, Japan takes on Iceland before host nation Portugal locks horns with Denmark.
Algarve Cup details:
Australia 0, Sweden 1 (L. Schelin (60)) HT 0-0
Denmark 0, Canada 1 (C. Sinclair (90)) HT 0-0
Holland 1 (R. Jansen (13)), China 0 HT 1-0
Japan 1 (K. Yokoyama (81)), Spain 2 (S. Mesegeur (59), O. Perez (72)) HT 0-0
Norway 1 (A. Hegerberg (4)), Iceland 1 (G. Jonsdottir (8)) HT 1-1
Portugal 0, Russia 1 (O. Mashina (86)) HT 0-0
At the SheBelieves Cup in the USA, the host nation edged Olympic champions Germany 1-0 thanks to Lynn Williams' 56th minute strike, while France came from behind to down England 2-1.
Wendie Renard headed home the winner in the 94th minute to complete a French fightback made necessary by Jordan Nobbs' twenty-five yarder just after the half-hour for the Lionesses.
Marie-Laure Delie's delightful striker's goal restored parity ten minutes from time, before the imposing French captain broke English hearts from a corner at the death.
The SheBelieves Cup is in its second year, and once more features host nation the USA along with the leading trio of European women's football-playing countries. Second round matches take place on Sunday, NZ time, with France meeting Germany prior to the USA and England locking horns.
SheBelieves Cup details:
England 1 (J. Nobbs (32)), France 2 (M. Delie (80), W. Renard (90)) HT 1-0
USA 1 (L. Williams (56)), Germany 0 HT 0-0
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