The Football Ferns scored a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Venezuela at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, Spain, on June 3 to square the two-match series against their South American rivals and record their second win in three internationals. Coach Michael Mayne made it clear that he was not impressed with Saturday's 3-1 loss against "Vinotinto" by ringing the changes in his starting line-up. Five fresh faces greeted referee Seth Galia's opening whistle in the shadows of the Rock of Gibraltar, one of whom, Liz Anton, was swiftly in the thick of the action. Alas for the defender, she was caught in possession by Barbara Olivieri inside the first two minutes of the match. And while Anton recovered to thwart her progress, the striker was still able to squeeze a pass through to Deyna Castellanos, who lashed an acute-angled drive beyond the dive of Victoria Esson and inches past the far post. Six minutes later, Olivieri went close with a curling fifteen-yarder after the Football Ferns had employed one of those loathsome goal-kick routines which only work if the players carrying it out are highly proficient technically and are well capable of passing their way out of danger. Not the case here, thus trouble swiftly appeared on the doorstep. So why invite it in the first place? The lesson was swiftly heeded, and later goal kicks of the more orthodox variety became the norm, rather than the exception. Still disappointing to see the short goal-kick tactic employed at all, however - you should play to your strengths wherever possible, so if that's a shortcoming, don't go there! Soon after Olivieri's close call, the Football Ferns fired their first shot in anger on a day they recorded New Zealand's first victory over Venezuela at any level in the six encounters between the countries to date. Jacqui Hand, one of the quintet introduced to the starting eleven, delivered a cross which prompted Venezuelan defender Gabriela Angulo to execute an awkward diving headed clearance which she got horribly wrong, nearly diverting the ball inside her near post as fifteen-year-old debutant goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales looked on in horror, then relief. The resulting corner was whipped in by Manaia Elliott, who deservedly earned a starting spot after her strong second half showing three days ago. Its outcome prompted referee Galia to point to the penalty spot, Kate Taylor having been hauled to the ground by Daniuska Rodriguez in a fashion more befitting of another sporting code. After a brief delay, up stepped Katie Kitching to afford Rebanales no chance from twelve yards. Alas for the Football Ferns, her kick slammed against the upright, and Milly Clegg, following in, was unable to direct the rebound on target … "It's not going to be another one of those days, is it?", collectively thought a watching nation 20,000 kilometres away. Unperturbed, the Football Ferns came again, Clegg seeing her cross punched clear by Rebanales after Hand's industry created the opening, while Meikayla Moore headed an Elliott free-kick over the bar in the sixteenth minute. Soon after, "Vinotinto" was up in arms after a typically uncompromising challenge by Anton left Castellanos in a heap and needing treatment. Referee Galia needed the patience of a saint to put up with the complaints of the South Americans, but play eventually resumed, with Rodriguez's cross being plucked off the head of Oriana Altuve by Victoria Esson in the 24th minute. Back came the Football Ferns, Rebanales right behind a Kitching free-kick nine minutes before half-time after Elliott was fouled twenty yards out from goal, an effort to which Venezuela responded by opening the scoring in the 41st minute. Castellanos created chaos on the left before inviting Olivieri to let fly from the edge of the penalty area, a shot which Esson tipped onto the crossbar. The ball dropped down into the goalmouth, and with Moore understandably hesitant - given previous experiences - in the shadows of the crossbar, Mariana Speckmaier stole in behind her and poked the ball home, the ball rolling agonisingly past the recovering figure of Esson as she desperately strove to deny the inevitable.

Venezuela's joy was short-lived, as the Football Ferns were back on level terms just four minutes later. Rebekah Stott worked an opening with Kelli Brown, who got the better of Veronica Herrera before picking out the unmarked figure of Clegg on the penalty spot. She was never going to miss this one-on-one chance, and duly picked her spot - 1-1. With virtually the last kick of the half, "Vinotinto" nearly regained the lead, Castellanos, with what proved to be her last act of the match, attempting a twenty-five yard lob on the run from the kick-off which had Esson beaten, only to bounce narrowly past the far post, much to New Zealand's relief. The second half was punctuated by substitutions at regular intervals, meaning goalscoring opportunities were rare birds. Claudia Bunge replaced Moore for the second spell, while Deven Jackson, New Zealand's most prolific markswoman in the recently completed A-League Women's competition, made her first appearance for her country since January 2023 when taking Brown's place in the on-field eleven. It was the former who featured in the half's first incident of note. A Kitching free-kick was partially cleared, but Bunge caught Yenifer Gimenez in possession in Venezuela's penalty area, creating a window of opportunity for Hand to let fly, her shot careering narrowly past the far post in the 51st minute. Ten minutes later, Esson pawed a Melanie Chirinos cross away from goal. Olivieri was unable to retrieve the situation, but Rodriguez, who was better placed to do so, made a pig's ear of the chance, sending the ball into orbit when composure was called for. Cue the introductions of Maya Hahn and Emma Pijnenburg for Stott and captain Annalie Longo, changes which meant that, for a brief period until Betsy Hassett was introduced to the fray in place of Elliott, not one of the Football Ferns on the pitch had made at least fifty appearances for their country! You have to go back to 26 February 2010, and our 140th international, a 1-1 draw with Holland at the Cyprus Cup, to find the last time such an inexperienced Football Ferns eleven had collectively graced a pitch - then captain Hayley Moorwood earned her fiftieth cap in New Zealand's next fixture, against Scotland, a match which saw the Kiwis secure a place in the Cyprus Cup Final. New Zealand's fortunes in their 314th international were about to take a turn for the better. In the 72nd minute, two of the substitutes combined, with Jackson sending "The Energizer Bunny" - the fresh legs of Hassett - scampering away down the right, from where she sent a cross zooming across the bows of Hand. Elliott recovered the situation, overcame the challenge of Floriangel Apostel and nutmegged Rodriguez with a pass which invited Hand to try again. This time, she made no mistake, steering home via the inside of the far post to give the Football Ferns a 2-1 lead. Venezuela looked to hit back straight away, Apostel going close from twenty-five yards. That was to be the last shot of note in the match, however, the only other threat of a goal in the time remaining materialising in the dying minutes, when Elliott's corner towards Bunge at the near post appeared to be handled by a Venezuelan defender. The resulting penalty claims being ignored by referee Galia, who blew the final whistle soon after to confirm a second win in three games for the Football Ferns, and another against South American opposition, Venezuela joining Argentina (twice), Brazil (twice) and Colombia (thrice) on their CONMEBOL hit-list to date. Venezuela:     Rebanales; Apostol (Pescatore, 79), V. Herrera (Carrasco, 69 (booked, 83)), Gimenez, Angulo; Olivieri, Garcia, Daniuska Rodriguez (Dayana Rodriguez, 79); Castellanos (Chirinos, 46), Altuve (Guarcuco, 69), Speckmaier (A. Herrera, 89) Football Ferns:     Esson; Moore (Bunge, 46), Taylor, Anton; Kitching, Longo (Hahn, 65), Stott (Pijnenburg, 65), Elliott; Brown (Jackson, 46), Clegg (Hassett, 71), Hand (Green, 84) Referee:     Seth Galia (Gibraltar)