The Football Ferns scored back-to-back wins against non-Oceania opposition for the first time since 2013 on 6 September, coming from behind to down the Philippines 2-1 at Titan Stadium in Los Angeles. The result was the perfect follow-up to a 1-0 victory over Mexico earned four days prior at Dignity Health Sports Park in the same city, Catherine Bott swooping on a wayward back-pass to power home a twenty-yarder six minutes from time. And within three minutes of this match kicking off, Jitka Klimkova's charges should have taken the lead, Paige Satchell snatching at a glorious chance after being gifted possession in the area by Dominique Randle, who failed to deal with a Liz Anton cross. That was the cue for the Philippines to enjoy a spell of dominance, aided somewhat by the Football Ferns' struggles to string passes together when building from the back, which they finally resolved in the eighteenth minute via a delightful interchange featuring Erin Nayler, Bott, Ali Riley and Jacqui Hand, who sent the ball down the left for new recruit Indiah-Paige Riley. The one-time Australian has changed her footballing allegiances to the land of her birth, and linked neatly with namesake Ali in this move, the captain going on to deliver a wicked low cross through the goalmouth. Sadly, no one in white was racing in to cap off a fine attack in the manner it deserved. The Rileys combined on the left again in the 26th minute, Indiah-Paige then linking with the well-performed Olivia Chance, who initially over-ran the ball, then regathered it, turned and evaded a challenge before unleashing a twenty-yarder which drifted narrowly past the far post. The Ferns continued to have issues with the accuracy of their passing, however, and on the half-hour could have paid the price for it. Meikayla Moore turned possession over cheaply, and Jessica Miclat was swift to capitalise on it and let fly. Nayler was right behind her twenty-five yarder, and a twenty-yarder from Katrina Guillou four minutes later as Bott cleared a Sofia Harrison cross straight to the midfielder, who evaded a challenge before letting fly. When the Philippines next chanced their arm, on the stroke of half-time, they took the lead. Sara Eggesvik tackled the less-capped Riley just inside her own half, strode forward, then picked out Sarina Bolden powering through the inside left channel. Without breaking stride, she unleashed a first-time volley to which Nayler got her hands. But the shot proved too hot for her to handle, and carried on undeterred into the net to leave the Football Ferns trailing by a goal at the interval. Conceding when they did ensured the Football Ferns' minds were firmly focused come the start of the second spell, and they hit the ground running in their desire to turn the deficit around and score back-to-back victories. Olivia McDaniel dashed out to save at the feet of Indiah-Paige Riley as she looked to latch onto Chance's slide-rule pass in the 53rd minute, while half-time substitute Gabrielle Rennie just failed to

get on the end of an Ali Riley cross in the 62nd minute after the fullback had combined neatly with Chance and Betsy Hassett down the left. The Football Ferns' lack of progress where getting back into the contest was concerned was getting to Bott, whose seeming inability to consistently channel her aggression and volatility for the greater good renders her more liability than asset to the team, her long-range shooting prowess notwithstanding. She let fly from thirty yards in the 67th minute, a dipping effort which Olivia McDaniel tipped over the bar at the death, but just minutes prior, Bott had earned the ire of referee Danielle Chesky for once more allowing her frustrations to get the better of her, at the expense of yet another yellow card … From the corner arising from Bott's attempt, the Football Ferns were afforded the chance to draw level from twelve yards, after Moore was sent tumbling by Randle while attempting to get on the end of an Ali Riley cross. The central defender picked herself up, dusted herself down, put the ball on the spot and, after a lengthy delay, levelled the scores in unerring fashion, drilling home hard and low into the corner past McDaniel's despairing dive - 1-1. That goal gave the Football Ferns renewed impetus, but such were the efforts of Miclat and Philippines captain Hali Long that it wasn't until the 82nd minute that they were able to fashion another goalscoring opportunity of note. And they took it! Indiah-Paige Riley evaded a challenge before pulling the ball back behind Hassett for Satchell. Her shot was blocked by Eva Madarang, but rebounded perfectly for Ali Riley to hook home what proved to be the winning goal from close-range - 2-1! A third goal beckoned five minutes later, as Rennie homed in on a wayward back-pass, but McDaniel dashed out of her area to clear the sphere off the striker's toes, prompting pressure from the Philippines which culminated in a last-gasp opportunity from which they nearly drew level. The post spared New Zealand's blushes as substitute Tahnai Annis picked out fellow replacement Jessika Cowart, whose header crashed off the upright to safety with Nayler beaten and time all but up on the clock. The Philippines' Australian coach Alen Stajcic was expecting at least another minute of playing time when referee Chesky blew the final whistle, and while he stewed at having been beaten by the New Zealanders, the Football Ferns celebrated a hugely successful two-match tour, the first in which they'd won both games played for nigh on four years. And the first with captain Ali Riley as the match-winner - rare indeed! Philippines:     McDaniel; Madarang (booked, 35), Long, Randle, Harrison; Quezeda (Flanigan, 86), Miclat (Cowart, 86), Guillou, Frilles (Annis, 70); Frilles, Bolden F'ball Ferns:     Nayler (Leat, 77); Anton (Rennie, 46), Moore, Bunge, A. Riley; Bott (booked, 65) (Taylor, 86), Hassett, Chance, I. Riley; Satchell, Hand (Green, 77) Referee:     Danielle Chesky (USA)