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v. China 2
Different Date, Same Story
by Jeremy Ruane
For the third successive match on their pre-Olympic tour, the Football Ferns have dominated their opposition but come away with nothing to show for their efforts.
To make matters worse, a fifth minute goal from Han Duan was all that separated John Herdman's charges from a maiden draw against China, as the Steel Roses recorded a 1-0 win over the Football Ferns at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Football Stadium on July 20.
“We had two corners in the first five minutes”, said a downcast Herdman, “and they hit us on the counter-attack, with Han Duan unmarked on the near post to score what proved to be the only goal of the game. After that we've simply battered them, but we've got nothing to show for it.
“I feel like a broken record at present. Three games, three really consistent performances, three narrow defeats - Jenny Bindon didn't have to make a top class save all night. It's disappointing for the players and the staff, that's for sure”.
It was hard for the coach to hide his frustrations after another night when New Zealand did everything but score. “We're in a great space at the moment. We just need to convert our chances - we had a fair few tonight that went begging, that's for sure.
“We had plenty of possession in the attacking third, but there are times when the quality of delivery isn't enough to provide the chances, and other times when it is, but the quality of the finish doesn't match it.
“Basically, we've got two things to put right. Our finishing, obviously. We need just a little more craft and predatory instinct in the attacking third, as well as working on making the runs that get in behind defences.
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“At the other end of the park, the concession of early goals is a concern. We've prided ourselves on our defensive abilities in the past, but in these China games, we've conceded inside the first ten minutes of each match - we can't afford to do that”.
Herdman singled out Katie Hoyle - “absolutely outstanding, never played a bad ball”, Ria Percival - “her quality was brilliant”, and Ali Riley - “playing with a lot of confidence at the moment - our X factor” - as the night's star turns, while Marlies Oostdam and Anna Green were both “solid” in the half each played in the left-back role.
“It was a good dress rehearsal for the Japan game tonight, in front of over 20,000 fans, which made for a good atmosphere. Now it's off to Singapore, where we'll experiment with different combinations against their national team on Wednesday night”.
That match precedes a clash with Canada on Friday, the Football Ferns' final fixture on their pre-Olympic tour before they head to Beijing to briefly sample the Olympic Village atmosphere, prior to a return to Qinhuangdao for Olympic action against Japan and Norway, with the USA match in Shenyang.
The Football Ferns head to Singapore with a few injury concerns. Amber Hearn was taken off as a precaution in the second half of tonight's game, in light of the calf injury she is recovering from, while Rebecca Smith is still struggling with the thigh strain which forced her to sit out the first encounter with China on Wednesday night.
Football Ferns: Jenny Bindon; Ria Percival, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Smith (Kristy Hill, 70), Marlies Oostdam (Anna Green, 46); Ali Riley, Hayley Moorwood, Katie Hoyle, Kirsty Yallop; Renee Leota (Emma Kete, 46), Amber Hearn (Rebecca Tegg, 73)
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