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Norway 2
Late Goals Fire Norway Past Ferns
by Jeremy Ruane
Two goals in the last ten minutes of their second encounter in as many days at the Randaberg Arena in Stavanger secured Norway a 2-0 win over the Football Ferns in front of 870 spectators on 27 November.
Norwegian coach Even Pellerud made six changes to his starting line-up, and was rewarded with an improved performance by his side against a Football Ferns team which maintained its superiority in possession terms, but failed to carve out too many opportunities to reward their industry and endeavour.
Sarah Gregorius and Emilie Haavi exchanged shots on goal inside the opening fifteen minutes - the latter's twenty-five yarder only just cleared the crossbar - before Amber Hearn, playing her last game as a 29-year-old, went close half-way through the first half.
Ada Hegerberg headed narrowly over eight minutes before half-time as the Norwegians sought to break the deadlock, a feat the dangerous Haavi nearly realised six minutes into the second spell, after nutmegging Ria Percival near the corner flag.
The recalled Rebecca Rolls came to her fullback's aid with a fine blocking save, one of a handful of top stops she produced during the second spell. She couldn't keep them all out, however, with the Norwegians taking the lead nine minutes from time when a free-kick from substitute Andrine Hegerberg was inadvertently turned into her own net by Hearn as she looked to head the danger to safety.
Worse was to come for the Football Ferns seven minutes later, when Abby Erceg made a hash of clearing a free-kick and was dutifully punished by Ada Hegerberg, who thrashed the ball beyond Rolls to confirm Norway's season-ending victory, one in which Haavi, Maren Mjelde and Kristine Minde stood out.
Pellerud was pleased with the outcome of the two-match series. "We were not sure what New Zealand would come up with, but they fielded a top team in the two matches. They came from a good match against France where they lost 2-1, a strong result.
"They gave us the run-round for half an hour in the first match with high pressure, intensity and tempo, and we had to adjust our game up. Perhaps we were better than them in the other halves. All in all two even matches, two very good events and a great end to the season".
Tony Readings, the Football Ferns coach, was as disappointed as his charges regarding the outcome, as this was a match the much-travelled side felt was there for the taking.
"We played well and again played and out-performed a team in the top ten in the world but have not got any reward. I felt we were more dominant today than in the first game, which makes the result ever harder to take.
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"It was a performance that was hard to fault in terms of effort, commitment and quality at times. We are at our best when we keep possession, look to make lots of passes and through balls and tire the opposition. We did that for longer periods today than in the first match but got no reward".
Reflecting on the progress the Football Ferns have made as they target a strong showing at the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in Canada next year, Readings said, "In two years we've moved from a team that were out-performed against top teams to competing with, and in fact outplaying, top teams. Now we need to turn those performances into positive results.
"We are able to keep the ball and create chances but need to now work hard on producing quality ball and scoring more goals. That's the hardest job in football of course".
Thus ends the Football Ferns' 2014 campaign, one in which they've played sixteen internationals, four of which were won, and four drawn. Over the course of the year, Abby Erceg has become the first centurion in the history of the game in this country, amassing 105 "A" international appearances by year's end.
Ria Percival and Katie Hoyle also made their 100th appearances for their country's senior representative women's team during the year, while Amber Hearn edged closer to both that milestone and becoming the first player to score fifty goals for the New Zealand women's team - she is one off both targets as the year closes.
A handful of players - Catherine Bott, Daisy Cleverley, Evie Millynn, Jasmine Pereira and Steph Skilton - made their full international debuts in 2014, a year which the Football Ferns began as FIFA's sixteenth-ranked women's footballing nation, their highest-ever position since this programme was introduced.
As well as the newcomers, there are a handful poised to return to the fray - Anna Green and Liz Milne from injury, Rosie White and Katie Bowen from university commitments, Hayley Bowden from the world of parenting.
Readings will have quite a challenge simply picking a squad for Canada 2015 - some good players are going to miss out when the Football Ferns take to women's football's ultimate stage next June, fearing no-one, yet quietly confident of making their mark in the manner we all hope.
Norway: Vesterbekkmo; Gardsjord, Ronning, Hole, Minde; Mykjaland (Andrine Hegerberg, 65), Mjelde (Hansen, 73), Ims; Jensen, (Enget, 46), Ada Hegerberg, Haavi (Bjanesoy, 78)
F'ball Ferns: Rolls; Percival, Stott, Erceg, Riley; Hassett (Yallop, 74), Hoyle, Hearn, Longo; Wilkinson (Collins, 56), Gregorius (Pereira, 85)
Referee: Pernille Larsson (Sweden)
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