The Football Ferns recorded their fiftieth win in international women’s football in some style on March 1, trouncing Scotland 3-0 at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca to secure their spot in the final of the Cyprus Cup. They will take on Canada in the competition’s showpiece fixture from 4am on Thursday, NZ time, thanks to a 1-1 draw between Italy and Holland in the late game on Matchday Three of the competition. It was already a milestone day for New Zealand football, with Football Ferns captain Hayley Moorwood becoming just the fourth female, and sixteenth international overall, to make fifty appearances in "A" internationals for her country. Fittingly, the team she led into battle produced a performance fully befitting the occasion, dominating possession in what, according to coach John Herdman, could have been a win by "five, six, seven. "It was a really top performance - very slick, very solid. I couldn’t have asked any more of the players - they played really well today". The Football Ferns enjoyed the perfect start when Amber Hearn - she’s well in contention for the tournament’s goalscoring trophy - headed home the opening goal in the fourth minute after a well-worked move saw play develop from the back and move down the right before a switch to the left flank culminated in a cross for the mercurial number nine. The Anna Signeul-coached Scottish team couldn’t live with their Antipodean opposition, and it was no surprise when the Football Ferns doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. The approach work was similar, but the finish was anything but, Anna Green scything in off the flank before battering a twenty-yarder in off the far post - 2-0. Three minutes later, it was 3-0 to the rampant Kiwis, with Hearn’s second goal of the game completing a hat-trick of milestones in this auspicious match - she is now ranked among the top ten all-time goalscorers for her country, joining Kirsty Yallop and former captain Marilyn Marshall in having scored nine goals for New Zealand on the world stage. This was one of her best, and concluded a left-flank raid which featured another switch of play in fine style. Hearn commandeered possession near the edge of the penalty area, evaded two challenges then turned and caressed the ball into the far corner of the net - a quality finish. "We had a couple of one-on-one opportunities, and seven set-plays", said Herdman of New Zealand’s second half chances, "but the only dampener on the game for us was an injury suffered just after half-time by Betsy Hassett in a fifty-fifty challenge - she’s a doubt for our final game". A game against a team with whom they’ve drawn twice in their last two encounters with Canada. But there must be a winner on Thursday morning. Will it be this line-up? New Zealand:   Bindon; Riley, Smith, Erceg, Green; Hassett (Longo, 50), Moorwood (Wall, 78), Hoyle, Yallop; White (Wilkinson, 70), Hearn (Kete, 78)  Non-playing subs:  Clansey, Hill, Milne Scotland:     Fay; Beattie, Corsie, McBride, Jones; Grant, Hamill, Little, Love; Ross, Fernon.   Subs:  Fleeting, Murray

Anna Green - trademark tap-in! Amber Hearn - goalscoring machine Betsy Hassett - injury cloud