New Zealand's Football Ferns scored their first victory over top-twenty-ranked opposition since December 1987 on March 10, as they humbled Holland 2-0 in Paralimni to secure themselves a third place play-off against France at the Cyprus Cup. On a day when Abby Erceg, Ria Percival and Rebecca Smith entered the ranks of New Zealand's top ten all-time appearance makers - each earned their 36th caps for their country, joining former captain Viv Robertson in enjoying that distinction, Marlies Oostdam was recalled to the starting line-up to play against the country of her birth, and she and her team-mates proceeded to dominate the Dutch from the outset. Oceania's champions made light of playing into a strong wind in the opening half of the game, and tore into their rivals with a vengeance. While their efforts went unrewarded in the first half, they didn't have to wait long in the second spell before justice was served on the scoreboard. Amber Hearn potted a twice-taken penalty in the 49th minute after Emma Kete, one of many stand-outs in an outstanding all-round team performance had been felled in the area. Twenty minutes later, Kirsty Yallop unleashed a free-kick from wide on the left which swerved goalwards and fizzed through the hands of Dutch goalkeeper Petra Dugardein to seal the deal for the Football Ferns over opponents ranked seventeenth in the world, seven places higher than their Kiwi conquerors. “We dominated proceedings from start to finish today”, said an understandably delighted coach, John Herdman, afterwards. “We were stronger, quicker, hungrier, and the Dutch ultimately couldn't cope with our pressure. “Going in 0-0 at half-time, having played into quite a strong wind, we knew we were half-way towards achieving the result we had set out to get, and had the confidence to go on with the job in the second half, which saw more of the same. “Getting the goal so soon after the restart was crucial”, admitted Herdman, as he savoured the Football Ferns' second win in nine months, and first against European opposition since December 1984. “Amber's first penalty was beautifully taken, and she held her nerve well with the re-take. Seeing Kirsty's free-kick going through the 'keeper's hands shows we're beginning to create our own luck, as that's the

Amber Hearn - spot-kick queen Kirsty Yallop - sealed the deal

sort of thing which has been going against us of late. “I'm over the moon with that performance. Every single player stood tall today - it was a pure team performance. Now we take on France in the third place play-off - what a contest that's going to be against the team ranked eighth in the world! And what an opportunity for us - we're looking forward to it!” The French won't be. They scraped past South Africa 3-2 in Nicosia, conceding two late goals after storming to a three-goal lead thanks to the efforts of Eugenie Le Sommer, Louisa Necib and Corine Franco. Having failed to beat England the other day, the French were relying on their cross-channel rivals slipping up in a repeat of the first-ever women's international in 1972. Back then, England beat Scotland 3-2. Thirty-seven years on, the Motherland's dominance of their neighbours from north of Hadrian's Wall remains, their 3-0 triumph coming about through goals from Eniola Aluko, Emily Westwood and Jesse Clarke, strikes which secured England's first appearance in a tournament final since the inaugural UEFA Women's Championships in 1984. England will play reigning Cyprus Cup holders Canada in the competition's final on Friday morning, NZ time, after second half goals from Christine Sinclair - her 98th in international football - and Melissa Tancredi clinched a 2-0 win over Russia in Larnaca. Scotland and Russia kick off the final day's action in Nicosia with their “wooden spoon” encounter, while Holland and South Africa will dispute fifth place. The Football Ferns' French affair kicks off at 1am on Friday, NZ time, with their third-place play-off being followed by the 2009 Cyprus Cup Final, between Canada and England. Details: Football Ferns 2 (A. Hearn (49 pen), K. Yallop (69)), Holland 0  HT 0-0 Holland:          Dugardein; Bito (Brummel, 60), Hogewoning, Koster (Meulen, 77), Kiesel-Griffioen, Melis (van de Sanden, 60), Smit, Hoogendijk, van den Heiligenberg (van der Ven, 60), Nooy (de Ridder, 85), Slegers Football Ferns:     Bindon; Riley, Erceg, Smith, Oostdam; Percival (Hoyle, 60), Moorwood, Hassett, Yallop; Hearn, Kete (White, 85)