The Football Ferns began their pursuit of silverware at the Cyprus Cup in Paralimni on March 6, NZ time, by holding cup holders Canada to a 1-1 draw - a repeat of the scoreline these teams produced in a pre-Olympic Games friendly in Singapore last year. Canada opened the scoring in the tenth minute when debutant Christine Julien latched onto a Christine Sinclair pass and managed to squeeze the ball between Jenny Bindon's legs from an acute angle at the goalkeeper's near post. Bindon redeemed herself when denying Kaylyn Kyle's eighteen-yarder just shy of the half-hour, before parity was restored eleven minutes before the interval. After she had worked an opening with Ali Riley, Rosie White's cross picked out the unmarked Betsy Hassett, who swept home her maiden international goal from twelve yards. The Football Ferns, who were led in a haka by Kristy Hill prior to the match, went close with a headed effort just before half-time. Canada enjoyed a few openings in the second spell, with Bindon tipping one effort over the bar in between watching efforts from Emily Zurrer and Sinclair clear her crossbar, but the Football Ferns went even closer than their higher-ranked opponents. "Annalie Longo hit the crossbar", says Football Ferns coach, John Herdman, "while Sarah McLaughlin - a very good impact off the bench - grazed the post with a twenty-yarder. Then Canadian 'keeper Karina Le Blanc parried a last-minute one-on-one effort from Emma Kete round the post. We thought it was the winner!" Nonetheless, a draw against the Cyprus Cup holders was a good way for the Football Ferns to commence their campaign, particularly given the result of the other match in their group. Holland defeated Russia 2-1 at the Makarios Stadium thanks to two goals in the last twelve minutes of the first half, which sandwiched a Natalia Mokshanova penalty for the beaten team during this time. Herdman was generally pleased with the efforts of his charges, many of whom caught the eye, none more so than goalscorer Hassett. "We dominated possession from start to finish and outplayed Canada, looking better than our opponents for long intervals. "I was quite impressed with how the girls went about their performance. But we lacked a little bit of creativity in the middle and attacking thirds of the

Betsy Hassett - scored the equaliser Annalie Longo - hit the bar Carolina Morace - denied a winning debut

pitch to turn that dominance into goals. Fifteen shots on goal compared to two tells its own story. "We're getting into good positions, but we need to look to be more composed when shooting - not snatching at chances. As well as needing to be more clinical in our finishing, our movement in behind the defence also needs to be sharper. Those are things we'll be working on over the next couple of days". Newly appointed Canadian coach, Carolina Morace, was pleased with the efforts of her team after her first game at the helm. "I am happy with the performance of the team after not playing for five months. For me the match went very, very well, as the players on the other team are playing every week. "I am pleased with the team effort as they tried to do what I asked of them. We will build on this performance". In Group A action, France eclipsed Scotland 2-0 in Ammochostos, thanks to second half goals from Delphine Blanc and Eugenie Le Sommer. Meanwhile, England steamrollered South Africa 6-0 in Nicosia, netting three goals in each half. Fara Williams and Lianne Sanderson both struck in a sixty-second spell just before the twenty minute mark to put the Lionesses in the driving seat, and when Kelly Smith struck three minutes before half-time, there was no way back for Banyana Banyana. Stephanie Houghton made it 4-0 nine minutes into the second half, while the South Africans had a player sent off prior to a brace of Katie Chapman goals rounding out the scoring in the dying minutes. The second round of matches takes place on Sunday morning, NZ time, with the Football Ferns taking on Russia in Nicosia. Holland and Canada also clash in the Cypriot capital, as do Scotland and South Africa, while in Paralimni, England and France lock horns. All four games kick off at 1.45am NZ time. Details: Canada 1 (C. Julien (11)), New Zealand 1 (B. Hassett (34)) HT 1-1 Canada: Le Blanc; Zurrer, Andrews, Stewart (Nault, 72), Booth; Wilkinson, Matheson, Walsh (Lagonia, 55), Kyle; Sinclair, Julien (Vermuelen, 62) Football Ferns: Bindon; Riley, Erceg, Smith, Green (Oostdam, 68); Percival (Longo, 70), Moorwood (Hoyle, 79), Hassett, Yallop; Hearn (McLaughlin, 79), White (Kete, 70)