The Football Ferns suffered their heaviest defeat on their travels in fourteen months at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey, on April 11, Nigeria's "Super Falcons" handing them a 3-0 drubbing in the first-ever clash between the dominant women's footballing nations of the African and Oceania confederations. With the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals they're co-hosting in just 100 days' time, this was a result the Football Ferns could ill afford. At a time when they should be showing the sort of form which would suggest they'll be a competitive force on their own soil, Jitka Klimkova's team is enduring a ten-match winless - not their longest, by any means, but in terms of when it's taking place … Which is disappointing because there was much to like about the Football Ferns' opening quarter of the contest - they were very much on the front foot and looking to make things happen. Such as in the fourth minute, when Jacqui Hand created an opening for Hannah Wilkinson, only for the covering figure of Oluwatosin Demehin to intervene at the near post, albeit at the expense of a corner, Michaela Foster's delivery of which was punched out from beneath her crossbar by Chiamaka Nnadozie. Four minutes later, a long throw-in from the fullback - only her fourth appearance for her country, but it's increasingly looking like Foster's going to be one of the Football Ferns' key attacking weapons throughout July and August, courtesy her set-piece proficiency - was allowed to bounce by the Nigerians, not once but twice. Stealing in to take advantage on the far post was Grace Jale, who was looking to celebrate her 24th birthday 24 hours earlier with her third goal for her country. Alas for the well-performed flank player, her shot was blocked by Nnadozie, who recovered quickly to grab the rebound off a team-mate. A short Foster corner in the twelfth minute culminated in captain Ali Riley's inviting cross being plucked off the head of Hannah Wilkinson by Nnadozie, who repeated the feat six minutes later to prevent Gabrielle Rennie - the injury-enforced change to the starting line-up which took on Iceland four days ago - from exploiting Jale's searching cross, after the latter had worked a one-two with Riley on the right. Still the Football Ferns pressed, Nnadozie punching a Foster corner off the head of Jale in the twentieth minute, an act which sparked a Nigerian counter-attack, at the sharp end of which Rasheedat Ajibade unleashed a rising twenty yard drive which sizzled narrowly over the crossbar. That was the signal for the African team to start mixing it up with their opponents, as a consequence of which very few openings materialised throughout the remainder of the half as the battle for midfield supremacy began in earnest. If the scoreboard is the determining factor, said battle was won by the Nigerians, who broke the deadlock eleven minutes before half-time with an avoidable goal, one which reeked of defensive naivety. A poor pass from Riley to Rebekah Stott was pounced on by former Liverpool striker Asihat Oshoala, who surged into the penalty area before seeing her shot deflect off Katie Bowen for a corner, Toni Payne's delivery of which found veteran defender Onome Ebi creating space for herself to execute a looping header into the one area of the goal Victoria Esson's flailing fingertips could not reach. It was a blow from which the Football Ferns were unable to recover before half-time. Four minutes after the interval, another was struck which left the Cup Finals co-hosts in damage limitation mode, now that they were two goals down. Impressive fullback Michelle Alozie - it's not hard to see why she's rightly considered one of the world's best exponents of that position, based on this performance - saw her initial cross on the run blocked by Malia Steinmetz. But when she rampaged down the right again seconds later, this time there was no defensive cover to prevent Alozie's delivery being volleyed home in emphatic fashion from six yards by Jennifer Echegini, whose run from midfield wasn't tracked by anyone sporting the Football Ferns' new white-and-teal ensemble. It's football statements more than fashion statements which Klimkova's charges need to be making as their preparations ramp up ahead of the day in June when the coach names her squad to represent the co-hosts at the world's biggest sporting event in 2023, and with this being the last opportunity playing-wise on the international stage for players to stake a claim before that announcement is made, a few of those on the bench were hoping to make an impact.

Alas for the likes of Meikayla Moore, Kate Taylor, Indiah-Paige Riley, Grace Neville and Liz Anton, the opportunity to do so wasn't forthcoming in a contest which saw the coach later bemoan a lack of "defensive grit" in New Zealand's display, something which Klimkova had chances to address throughout the second spell, only to opt to make the bulk of her substitutions inside the final ten minutes, long after the chance to make an impact on proceedings has passed. Thus it was that the "Super Falcons" largely kept their Kiwi counterparts at arm's length for the bulk of the rest of the contest, save for a couple of instances when Nnadozie was called into action, such as in the 56th minute, when the 'keeper blocked at the feet of Wilkinson after the striker's pressure forced Ebi to under-hit a back-pass. Nigeria responded with a delightful five-pass interchange which culminated in Alozie scything in off the right before unleashing a drive which Esson saved at her near post, with Oshoala hovering in close proximity lest the 'keeper spill the sphere. Five minutes later, Riley's probing through ball for Wilkinson was well anticipated by Nnadozie, who plucked Foster's cross off the head of the Football Ferns' attacking spearhead seconds later. Cue the moment every Football Ferns fan was dreading in this match, a lengthy injury-enforced stoppage. It came in the 67th minute, as Betsy Hassett disputed possession on halfway with half-time substitute Desire Oparanozie. The image of the midfielder lying motionless after her African opponent had landed on top of her had alarm bells ringing immediately, and the question which was asked four days ago regarding Olivia Chance's FIFA Women's World Cup Finals' fitness prospects following her injury was repeated - would Hassett be fit in time for the big dance in July and August? The sight of the dynamic midfielder struggling to make it off the pitch, hand clutching her side, suggests a spell on the sideline with rib damage is inevitable. One hopes no further injury, e.g. a punctured lung, has been inflicted in this incident - Hassett would certainly face a fitness race against the clock if she's diagnosed with anything other than broken bones this time round. Eleven minutes from time, the Football Ferns looked to mount another attack, Hand leading the way, with assistance from Jale. The striker played the ball wide to Riley, whose searching cross saw Nnadozie produce a spectacular denial to prevent Wilkinson from capitalising on the delivery. Eight minutes later, the introduction of Milly Clegg to the attack saw the newcomer work a one-two with Jale, whose super return pass invited the prodigy to burst into the penalty area, where the chance to shoot loomed large, as did the chance to present Hand with the opportunity to drag the Football Ferns back into the contest. In the end, neither came to pass, Nnadozie pouncing on Clegg's uncertainty to snuff out the threat, New Zealand's last in this contest. Not so for the Nigerians, however. Stott's departure from the fray saw uncertainty engulf those in front of Esson in the time remaining, and it wasn't long before the 'keeper was producing a double-save to deny both Ajibade and Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene as the game entered stoppage time. New Zealand's number one was called upon again during the additional minutes, once more denying Ajibade. This time, the ball broke for Oparanozie, who looked to be in an offside position, one which wasn't flagged by the Turkish official. She took full advantage, turning Claudia Bunge before thundering a shot on the turn past Esson into the far corner of the net with virtually the last kick of the match to secure a 3-0 win for the "Super Falcons", who'll take on Australia, Canada and Eire in the forthcoming FIFA Women's World Cup Finals' "group of death" in 100 days' time. The Football Ferns' preparations now centre on their Keith Hay Park-based training camp from late May, with a final hit-out against Vietnam in Napier on July 10 the last time the public will get to see the team in action before the eyes of the world will turn towards our national stadium on July 20, when the Football Ferns take on the brilliant Guro Reiten and her Norway team-mates in the opening game of our World Cup Finals at Eden Park. Nigeria:     Nnadozie; Alozie (Ogbonna, 88), Demehin, Ebi, Imuran; Payne (Okobi-Okeoghene, 80), Ayinde, Echegini; Okoronkwo (Oparanozie, 46), Oshoala (Monday, 75), Ajibade F'ball Ferns:     Esson; A. Riley, Stott (Bunge, 85), Bowen, Foster (Barry, 85); Jale, Steinmetz, Hassett (Cleverley, 71), Rennie (Satchell, 46); Hand, Wilkinson (Clegg, 85) Referee:     Arda Kedesler (Turkey)