A hat-trick from Elena Fomina inspired Russia to score a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Football Ferns in a Cyprus Cup second round encounter in Nicosia on March 7. The result leaves the New Zealand squad needing to beat Holland in their final match on Wednesday, and hope cup holders Canada conquer Russia on the same day, if they are to contest the third place play-off at the eight-team tournament. John Herdman's charges got off to the perfect start when, straight from the kick-off, Abby Erceg sent the ball forward, and Amber Hearn's deft flick sent Ria Percival streaking through the Russian rearguard to open the scoring inside the first ninety seconds of play. Stunned, the European combination responded in clinical fashion, Fomina mercilessly punishing a defensive lapse in the fifteenth minute before lashing home a twenty-five yarder into the top corner of the net eight minutes later to give the Russians the lead. Tatiana Skotnikova headed home from a corner ten minutes before half-time to put Russia 3-1 ahead at the interval, but Hearn coolly halved the deficit from the penalty spot on the hour, after Kirsty Yallop had been crudely felled in the area. This spurred the Kiwis on in their search for an equaliser, but after squandering a host of opportunities, many of them gilt-edged, they were mercilessly punished for their profligacy five minutes from time when Fomina capped off a counter-attack to complete her hat-trick and put paid to the Football Ferns' hopes of snatching at least a draw from a game they had high hopes of winning. Coach John Herdman was perplexed when contacted post-match. “I can't complain too much about the performance”, he said, “but it's disappointing when we have plenty of chances but don't take them. “Today was very similar to the Canadian game, whereby we had plenty of possession, and absolutely peppered the Russians in the second half particularly, but encountered one of those days when we didn't take our chances and they did. “It seemed that anytime they came down our end of the pitch and hit something on target, it went in, whereas we created plenty of openings but failed to take them. Two examples - Kirsty Yallop blazed over from six yards with just the 'keeper to beat, while Sarah McLaughlin also spurned a one-on-one chance late in the game. “That's been the difference - clinical finishing. This group's wide open, and the teams in it are pretty evenly matched - there are no big gaps between us.

Elena Fomina - scored a hat-trick Ria Percival - opened the scoring Amber Hearn - potted a penalty

But compared to those other teams, we haven't taken our chances …” At least Herdman and his charges are still in with a shot at third place, a situation made possible by Canada's 2-1 defeat of Holland in the other match in the group. A first half brace from Christine Sinclair did the damage for the reigning champions, with Sylvia Smit's strike early in the second half not enough to retrieve the situation for the Dutch team on a day when Canada's Amy Walsh made her one hundredth appearance for her country. In the other group, England twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with France in a closely fought affair. Corine Franco gave the French the lead on the quarter hour, but by the time a further fifteen minutes had elapsed, Karen Carney had levelled matters for the Lionesses. The scoreline remained that way until eighteen minutes from time, when Elodie Thomas restored France's advantage. But within three minutes, Casey Stoney had again brought about parity, and 2-2 was how it finished in Paralimni. The later game of the day in Nicosia saw South Africa score twice in the last ten minutes to upset Scotland 2-0, a result which leaves the beaten team on course for a seventh place play-off, and Banyana Banyana celebrating a famous victory. The final round-robin matches take place at 1am on Wednesday, NZ time, with the Football Ferns returning to Paralimni for their must-win clash with Holland. Canada and Russia clash at the same time in Nicosia. Meanwhile, England and Scotland will lock horns on a day when France will look to run riot against South Africa. England and France are locked on four points, with Hope Powell's team having a superior goal difference advantage, giving them the inside running to top the group and play off for the trophy on Friday, NZ time. Details: Russia 4 (E. Fomina (15, 23, 85), T. Skotnikova (35)), New Zealand 2 (R. Percival (2), A. Hearn (60 pen))  HT 3-1 Russia:               Kochneva (Baznova, 85); Filisova (Kharchenko, 82), Kozhnikova, Poriadina, Shmachkova (Pertseva, 75), Skotnikova, Morozova (Sochneva, 59), Fomina, Mokshanova (Titova, 70), Petrova (Terekhova, 46), Porova Football Ferns:     Bindon; Riley, Erceg, Smith, Green (Oostdam, 63); Percival (Longo, 60), Moorwood, Hassett (Hoyle, 80), Yallop; Hearn (McLaughlin, 80), White (Kete, 70)