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v. Korea Republic
Koreans Come From Behind To Down Football Ferns
by Jeremy Ruane
Two goals in as many minutes twenty minutes from time propelled Korea Republic to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over New Zealand's Football Ferns in the opening match of the Peace Queen Cup tournament on Saturday evening.
John Herdman's charges dominated the first half of the match, with captain Hayley Moorwood and Kirsty Yallop bossing the midfield in the humidity and 25C heat as 31,842 fans looked on in the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
The natives were silenced in the fourteenth minute, as the Football Ferns took the lead. Intense pressure on the Korean rearguard culminated in Renee Leota chasing down and dispossessing a defender, which allowed her to get to the by-line and pull the ball back.
Yallop strode onto the ball and struck a crisp eighteen-yarder hard and low past Korean goalkeeper Kim Jung Mi into the bottom corner of the net for her sixth goal in fourteen internationals.
It was a goal New Zealand deserved, and with the midfield domination supplemented by the sterling defensive partnership of Abby Erceg and Rebecca Smith behind them, the Kiwis continued to dictate terms until the hour mark, when the heat and humidity began to take its toll on players not used to such conditions.
At the same time, the Koreans, who incurred the game's only booking in the first half, individually stepped up their performances across the park. But the Ferns continued to ride out the storm until they were hit on the counter-attack twice in as many minutes by a country New Zealand had previously fought out three scoreless draws with, and beaten 1-0 in their last encounter, at Ken Maunder Park in March 1996.
The opening goal, in the 69th minute, was set up by Cha Yun Hee. Kwon Hah Nul provided the finish, then sent Park Hee Young racing through two minutes later to put the Koreans 2-1 up, despite strong claims that the scorer was in an offside position - at least three metres off, according to an ex-pat Kiwi watching the match from the stands.
“It was dubious, to say the least”, confirmed Herdman afterwards. “We were caught a bit cold straight after the equaliser, which came about when a move featuring Emma Kete broke down.
“We knew they were going to be strong through the middle of the park, and with the second goal, we kicked off and went forward, lost possession, and they strung together three or four passes in the blink of an eye …
“There were some angry young women who came off that pitch today. Angry because this is the second time in three games this has happened, whereby we've let a
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 Abby Erceg battles with Cha Yun Hee
 Cho So Hyun clears ahead of Amber Hearn
 Ria Percival keeps a wary eye on the ball as Kwon Hah Nul gives up the chase
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hard-earned lead slip with around twenty minutes to go. In time, I don't think it will, but while we continue along our learning curve …”
As well as the lessons to be learnt, such as closing out a game when in a winning position, there was plenty for Herdman to be enthusiastic about, particularly from the Football Ferns' first half showing.
“That was the best performance I've seen from the girls. They came into the game with a lot of belief, were quite organised, well disciplined, and stuck to our strategy - all good signs in our preparation for the Olympics in August.
“In terms of individual performances, Moorwood and Yallop were devastating in the first half, and dominated central midfield for an hour, while Erceg and Smith hit off a brilliant partnership behind them.
“But the heat and humidity took its toll, and we weren't able to apply the sustained pressure which had allowed us to dominate the first spell for too long in the second half - it was certainly hard work for the players”.
Players who now have a recovery day ahead of a clash with fellow Olympic Women's Football Tournament competitors Argentina, a country New Zealand has yet to face at senior level, from 8pm on Monday evening.
The South American champions prepared for that encounter by taking to the field for the first time since last year's Women's World Cup Finals in the other match in New Zealand's group.
Predictably, Canada duly made light work of the Albicelestes, the Canucks steamrollering their way to a 5-0 win, with four of their goals coming in the second spell of a match which saw two players from each side booked.
Christine Sinclair set up Diana Matheson's first half strike, then scored two herself in the first nine minutes of the second half, before Melissa Tancredi and Brittany Timko rounded out the Canadians' nap hand, which was watched by a 26,370-strong crowd.
New Zealand: Jenny Bindon; Ria Percival, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Smith, Anna Green (Annalie Longo, 80); Merissa Smith (Katie Hoyle, 65), Hayley Moorwood, Kirsty Yallop, Ali Riley; Amber Hearn (Emma Kete, 60), Renee Leota (Emma Humphries, 75)
Unused substitutes: Betsy Hassett, Kristy Hill, Rachel Howard, Emily McColl
Korea (starting): Kim Jung Mi; Yu Ji Eun, Kim Yoo Mi, Hong Kyung Suk; Cho So Hyun, Kwon Hah Nul, Lee Jang Mi, Lee Eun Mi; Park Hee Young, Han Song I, Cha Yun Hee
Referee: Jenny Palmqvist
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