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La Roda
Scoreless Spanish Stalemate Sees Series Shared
by Jeremy Ruane
The Football Ferns and Spain battled out a scoreless draw in the second of their two internationals this week, watched by a 3000-capacity crowd at the Campo Municipal de La Roda on March 5.
Ignacio Quereda's team sported six changes from that which enjoyed a two-goal advantage over the Football Ferns after an hour in Guadalajara, while Tony Readings gave starts to two of the substitutes who turned the game on its head in that encounter.
He was pleased with the way his charges started the game, compared with their last two outings, where the opposition have stolen a march on the Football Ferns and forced the Oceania champions to chase the game.
This time, it was the Kiwis who enjoyed the better of the exchanges, with a goalbound Sarah Gregorius effort being blocked early in the half, while Hannah Wilkinson should have done better at the business end of a move ignited by Katie Bowen's swashbuckling run out of defence past three opponents.
Spain, too, weren't without their first half chances, Sonia Bermudez and Marta Corredera at the heart of much of what they did. But it was Rebekah Stott who gave Erin Nayler most cause for concern before half-time, the 'keeper forced to tip the defender's attempted headed clearance over the bar late in the half.
It was more of the same in the second spell, with Amber Hearn's bid to build on her tally of fifty goals for her country in all Football Ferns fixtures - she is the first New Zealand international, male or female, to reach this milestone - often foundering on the exploits of Spain's debutant goalkeeper, Sandra Panos.
Nayler, too, was kept busy in the second spell, saving with her legs to frustrate Vero Boquete, while also denying substitute Natalia Pablos with a save which ensured the match would finish scoreless.
It wasn't quite the way the travelling team had hoped to mark the one hundredth "A" international of midfield anchor Katie Hoyle, and the last she will make with her maiden name on the shirt - it's Katie Duncan from now on!
The USA loom large in the Football Ferns' sights now, with Readings' charges set to face the reigning Olympic gold medalists in the Busch Stadium, St. Louis, from 7.30am on Easter Sunday morning, NZ time.
Spain: Panos; Garica, Torrejon, Landa, Bergara (Jimenez, 81); Hermoso, Borja (Pablos, 81), Corredera (Sampedro, 46); Boquete, Bermudez (Vazquez, 83), Putellas
F'ball Ferns: Nayler; Bowen, Stott (booked, 22), Erceg, Riley; Yallop (Hassett, 64), Hoyle, Hearn, Longo; Gregorius (Pereira, 60), Wilkinson (booked, 22) (White, 84)
Referee: Antonio Lahoz
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