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Japan Universities
Dogged Kiwi Women Downed By Japanese Students
by Jeremy Ruane
The Japan Universities women's selection, with more than a little assistance from the local match officials on occasions, downed New Zealand 1-0 at the J-Village in Fukushima on May 23, but it was a much improved effort from the visiting side, who were well worthy of a draw in this friendly non-cap-earning international.
That they finished on the wrong end of the scoreline once again stems from a nineteenth minute incident which ultimately decided the contest. A throw-in from Azusa Iwashimizu went beyond the challenging Maia Jackman, and the star of the Universities side, Karina Maruyama, raced forward. The captain, Akiko Niwata, loomed up in support, and duly steered Maruyama's pass across the advancing Jenny Bindon into the far corner of the net.
Until that point, a very even contest had ensued, and it continued to be so after the goal. Chances were hard-earned by both teams, although both almost conceded own goals. A through ball from the grittily-performed Sarah Gibbs, which was pursued by Michele Keinzley, had Keiko Tanaka hitting the panic button as she slammed her 21st minute clearance into the side-netting, while Gibbs herself was relieved to see Bindon grab her sliced clearance attempt just before the interval.
New Zealand's 'keeper made a couple of fine saves to keep her team in the contest before the break, thwarting both Niwata's twenty-five yard free-kick on the half-hour, and Maruyama's 43rd minute effort, by turning the ball round the post on both occasions.
The visitors, in contrast, engineered just one other first half opening, which the outstanding Simone Ferrara created from nothing through her dogged pursuit of Marlies Oostdam's crossfield ball. The midfielder, having set off from half-way, gathered the sphere before the by-line and crossed for the closing Keinzley at the near post. Miku Matsubayashi was alert to the danger, however, and saved at the striker's feet.
Both Jackman and Ferrara were harshly awarded yellow cards in the first spell by a local referee who, not to put too fine a point on it, was patently out of her depth given she was controlling an international fixture.
Let it be suffice to say that the minimum expectation of all three match officials by the players in any given fixture, but particularly an international encounter, is a consistent application of the Laws of the Game for the benefit of both teams.
Sadly, unless the evidence of an offence or ball in or out of play decision was crystal clear and beyond dispute, the officials' judgment appeared to be all too often clouded by a blue hue in this rain-soaked affair.
The second half saw a number of substitutions made by both teams, most notably the hosts, whose line-up at the end of the game was totally different to that which commenced it, as they took full advantage of the chance this match offered to help in their preparations for the World University Games in Turkey in August.
With the exception of goalkeeper Pam Yates, New Zealand also gave their entire bench a run-out in the second spell, with only one change being injury-enforced - Priscilla Duncan's knee strain saw Rebecca Smith play the full forty-five minutes.
An error by the latter's namesake, Rebecca O'Neill, in the 48th minute, let in Manami Makino, who played the clearly offside Yukari Kinga through with Bindon to beat. Jackman
 Michele Keinzley on attack
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 Simone Ferrara
 Maia Jackman
 Hayley Moorwood takes on the Japanese defence
 Hannah Bromley
 Sarah Gibbs
 Japan Universities starting line-up
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came storming back to cover, and with Hannah Bromley's assistance, the pair forced Kinga to shoot wide from distance.
Having fewer substitutes to call upon meant the visitors proved the more cohesive unit as the game wore on, and they put some tidy interchanges together, the benefits of the five training sessions they have held while in Japan clearly evident.
The Japanese defended resolutely and tenaciously, however, restricting the determined Kiwi team to just three genuine opportunities to equalise. In the 69th minute, Bromley's ball forward found Rebecca Sowden, whose slide-rule pass rewarded Hayley Moorwood's angled run. The captain evaded a challenge but fired narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar from twenty yards out on the right.
Six minutes later, Smith and Kirsty Yallop linked on that flank, the latter playing in Moorwood. She squared the ball to Amber Hearn, who shot fizzed low past the left-hand upright.
Seconds later, Ferrara's ferocious piledriver cannoned off Akiko Okuda and sparked a counter-attack by the students, towards which Bromley's error of judgment contributed. The defender had Bindon to thank for sparing her blushes, the 'keeper saving what proved to be the game's last opportunity of note from Yu Kawada, thirteen minutes from time.
"We deserved a draw out of that", said New Zealand coach, Mick Leonard, afterwards. "There were some exceptional performances, but we didn't get the right result. The girls gave 100% today, which, disappointingly, we didn't get from all of them in the full international.
"The players know they are international footballers representing New Zealand, and that putting the effort in is a given. Today, they all put in that effort, and it has definitely given me heart as we work towards our long-term objective, qualifying for China 2007.
"We'll definitely keep working at it and trying to improve, but to do so, we need more games at this level against players of this calibre. In that regard, this has been a good tour, and I'm well pleased with what we've taken from it".
Two of the senior players earned particular praise from Leonard for their efforts in Japan. "Over the two games, Simone Ferrara has been absolutely outstanding - she has improved no end from the USA tour last October, and was one of the bright spots of a very poor performance on Saturday.
"As for Maia Jackman, she is consistency personified. Yet again today, as on Saturday, she have her heart and soul for the cause. There were also encouraging signs from Hannah Bromley, the hard-working Michele Keinzley and Hayley Moorwood, who has the ability to make great progress at international level".
The squad returns home on Wednesday, and until further international fixtures can be arranged, thrice-weekly training sessions and regular matches against young male sides will continue to dominate the footballing lives of New Zealand's locally-based international women's soccer players.
New Zealand's line-up:
Bindon; Duncan (Smith, 46), Bromley (Ray, 78), Jackman, Gibbs; Ferrara, O'Neill (Rennie, 84), Moorwood, Sowden (Yallop, 70), Oostdam (Humphries, 66); Keinzley (Hearn, 57).
 Marlies Oostdam
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