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1997 Tri-Series Review
Successful Tour For SWANZ Despite Reversals
by Jeremy Ruane
Pictured right, the SWANZ, prior to one of their most memorable international performances of all time, the 3-1 loss to China at West Belconnen, Canberra, on November 21, 1997.
Back row, left to right:
Michele Cox, Sacha Haskell, Maia Jackman, Rachel Oliver, Amanda Crawford, Jane Simpson, Jennifer Carlisle, Melissa Ruscoe, Terry McCahill (c)
Front row, left to right:
Rachel Howard, Jill Corner, Zarnia Cogle, Melissa Wileman, Yvonne Vale, Kelly Jarden, Wendi Henderson
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Were one to address the fortunes of the New Zealand women’s soccer team, the SWANZ, based solely on the results of their matches against Australia (0-2) and China (1-3), the immediate assumption would be something along the lines of ‘Not good enough!’
Having witnessed the efforts of the team in Australia, however, the picture is not as discoloured as it may appear to be - far from it!
The quality of their performances against teams ranked far higher in the world had to be seen to be believed. Here was a team who had only gathered together two days prior to departing for the tri-series, taking on nations with literally millions of dollars to spend on their representative womens’ teams.
Australia have taken on the three superpowers of women’s soccer this year - the USA, Norway and, now, China, the silver medallists at Atlanta ‘96. Realistically, New Zealand stood little chance against their trans-tasman neighbours, never mind their Asian opposition, but their collective pride in wearing the silver fern was there for all to see, a fact not lost on an Australian public who have become used to outclassing New Zealand sporting representatives on home soil in recent weeks.
The host nation are not the formidable unit that the success-oriented home press have made them out to be. The Matildas’ goals in their 2-0 victory over New Zealand came as a result of two questionable refereeing decisions by local match officials, no more, no less.
The SWANZ, on the other hand, simply did not enjoy the rub of the green (and gold?). Twice they hit the crossbar, Wendi Henderson and Michele Cox left to rue their misfortune. An Amanda Crawford effort hit the sidenetting, while two other chances, emanating from Crawford and Maia Jackman, were blocked on the line.
China, meanwhile, were the ‘Real McCoy’, a high quality combination whose bewildering speed allied to their silky skills and ball control would give any opponent a hard time, let alone one just beginning its preparations for the Oceania zone Women’s World Cup qualifying matches in Auckland next October.
The second-best international team in women’s soccer took full advantage of New
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Zealand’s initial defensive unease to score twice in two minutes inside the first eleven minutes of the match.
The SWANZ held firm for the remainder of the first half, though, Cox even forcing the otherwise inactive Chinese goalkeeper to turn her twenty-five yard screamer over the top just before the interval. But in the 62nd minute, a stunning raid, started deep within their own half, saw China go further ahead with a goal breathtaking in both its construction and execution.
Not to be outdone, the SWANZ struck back seven minutes later, Cox getting her due reward with an unerring 69th minute drive from a free-kick which brought the biggest cheer of the night. As well, it spurred the SWANZ on in search of further goals, and Kelly Jarden’s crossbar shaker two minutes from time, seconds after Cox had brought another save out of the Chinese goalkeeper, almost brought the Kiwi team further reward.
Coach Maurice Tillotson was justifiably proud of his charges - he wasn’t alone in that regard - and could not have been more pleased with the outcome.
"I've been absolutely delighted with the results we’ve got here", he said amidst the euphoria of the squad following the Chinese encounter. “Okay, they’ve been defeats, but the fact remains that the team has competed well against two very strong sides, particularly China, who are ranked second in the world”.
The results have done wonders for the confidence of the squad, as Tillotson explains. “The players have seen that they can foot it with two very strong countries in the world of women’s soccer. With an extended preparation, we would be even more competitive, and must fancy our chances of beating Australia. The players now believe they have the ability to do that”.
“The game against China”, Tillotson continued, “coming only two days after the Australian encounter, was a thorough test of the courage and determination shown by all the players. They passed that test in magnificent fashion, and in doing so, have
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given me a platform upon which to build, and it’s one I know we can improve upon”.
The SWANZ players now continue on with their individual performances throughout the Christmas - New Year period before undergoing fitness tests at the Auckland Institute of Technology in mid-January, at which time Tillotson will also hold a coaching clinic for the squad, plus get some match-play against male youth teams.
A four-day camp is planned at Easter, while a proposed trip to Europe in May, and September’s National Championships, will provide quality match-play before the final camp takes place prior to next October’s qualifying series.
“It’s a very comprehensive build-up for amateur players who are going to need to take lots of time off work”, admits Tillotson. But if the squad achieves its twin ambitions - a place at the 1999 Women’s World Cup Finals in the USA and, with a top seven finish at that tournament, a berth at the Sydney Olympics - all the sacrifices will prove worthwhile.
The tri-series was won by Australia, who defeated China 2-1 in the final. But the scoreline doesn’t even begin to tell the story of this match, for China were robbed blind!!
The Asian team were decidedly hard done by, as both Australian goals, scored by Sarah Cooper and Katrina Boyd in the last twelve minutes, were of a dubious nature. Indeed, the latter hitting the crossbar and bouncing back into play, never actually crossing the line ... yet a goal was awarded!
To make matters worse for China, for whom Zhao Lihong found the target, they had two perfectly good goals - one a twenty yard screamer from Lihong, which soared into the top right-hand corner of the net - disallowed, and a clear-cut penalty denied them by Australian referee Tammy Peacock.
It speaks volumes for the official’s performance that profuse apologies were made to this writer and others present, including Chinese dignitaries, by a handful of Australian women’s soccer officials even before the final whistle had sounded - they were highly embarrassed, and rightly so.
Certainly, it is a display of “officiating” which this writer will not forget. Truth be told, it was an absolute disgrace to football, and it is to my eternal disappointment that there were only a couple of New Zealanders present to witness it.
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