It's almost ten years to the day - 24 February, 2004 - that North Korea handed the Football Ferns their heaviest ever defeat, but in the decade which has passed since that 11-0 trouncing on a tropical night in Brisbane, the beaten side has made giant strides towards ensuring there will never be a repeat of that scoreline. So much so that on meeting the North Koreans for the first time since that match, they dominated proceedings in near-freezing temperatures at the Chongqing Yongchuan Sports Centre in all but one aspect of the game. The Asian side spent large parts of their 13 February encounter penned largely inside their own half as the Football Ferns dictated terms, but a solitary lapse, three minutes before half-time, gifted the North Koreans possession in New Zealand's defensive third, and from that they scored what proved to be the game's only goal. It was a frustrating 1-0 defeat for Tony Readings' side, who were as dominant in this match as North Korea were a decade ago on that never-to-be-forgotten night at QE2 Stadium. The only difference was that everything the 2012 Yongchuan Cup winners touched that night turned to goals. The Football Ferns are still waiting to break their duck in 2014. "On another day, we'd have won comfortably", grimaced Readings afterwards. "We dominated the game even more than we did against China, and created more chances, but just couldn't put the ball in the net! "It was really frustrating - we could have won by three or four. We penned North Korea inside their half for long periods, worked openings, but … we've only got one injury to report - our pride!" Amber Hearn headed inches past the post from a corner. Katie Hoyle and Hannah Wilkinson both saw their shots from near the edge of the penalty area saved. Betsy Hassett grazed the crossbar with another effort … it was one of those games.

"Amber was very determined today", said Readings of the lone survivor from that fateful day in 2004. "The unpredictability in her play was a big factor in our attacking versatility. "Katie Hoyle was everywhere on the pitch at the right time once again, but the stand-out was our captain. Abby Erceg's defending was immense, and the variety of her passing was very good indeed". It was also the 24-year-old's 91st "A" international, surpassing the record previously held by Hayley Bowden, ironically on the latter's thirtieth birthday, a day on which Hannah Wilkinson became the seventeenth player to represent her country in at least fifty "A" internationals. She'll be looking to reprise one of her most famous goals when the Football Ferns take on 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals opponents, Mexico, in their final game in Chongqing from 10pm on Saturday, NZ time. The Mexicans have also lost both games at the Yongchuan Cup tournament so far, 2-0 to North Korea and 3-1 at China's hands, and the Football Ferns will be looking to inflict a third defeat in what is effectively a third place play-off. "The team feels we have unfinished business here, after the way things have gone in our first two games", said Readings. "We'll keep looking to improve in an area of our game which we are particularly targeting - our attacking play in the opposition's half of the pitch. "With those things in mind, we'll be looking to unleash against Mexico. It'll be a tough ask, because they're a good team, as we've seen at this tournament. But we've developed immensely in our two games. I'm quietly confident we'll win". Line-up: Nayler; Percival, Stott, Erceg, Bowen (Lee, 72); Hassett (Yallop, 65), Hearn, Hoyle, Longo (White, 82); Wilkinson, Gregorius (Collins, 75)