Junior Matildas 1

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Junior Matildas 1

AUS: Lucy Metcalf, Allison Clarke, Natalie Tobin, Jessie Williams, Sarah Carroll, Grace Henry, Jessica Dillon,

Amy Harrison, Breanna Sampson, Penelope Edmonds, Elizabeth Ralston (c)

NZL: Catherine Bott (c), Lily Alfeld, Meikayla Moore, Laura Merrin, Megan Lee, Hannah Carlsen, Jasmine Pereira,

Martine Puketapu, Emma Fletcher, Briar Palmer, Emily Jensen

Impressive First Half Helps Young Ferns Edge Australia

by Jeremy Ruane

An impressive first half showing from New Zealand's Young Ferns laid the foundations for a 2-1 victory over the Junior Matildas in the first of three internationals between the teams on the North Harbour Stadium Tigerturf on October 3.

One hopes those which take place on October 5 and 7 - 6pm kick-offs on both occasions at the same venue - do so in more clement conditions, because those which the players endured in this match were not pretty - driving rain assisted by a down-the-ground wind, into the teeth of which the Australians played in the first half.

They also played second fiddle to a New Zealand team which absolutely bossed the opening forty-five minutes of the series - a really impressive and authoritative display which was as refreshing to see as it was encouraging. Kiwi football teams rarely take the game to their West Island counterparts, but these Young Ferns showed no fear, and were swiftly rewarded for doing so.

Briar Palmer had already delivered two corners of varying quality by the time the chance to curl in a thirteenth minute effort rolled around. It was a beauty - right in the zone, and plum on the head of Martine Puketapu, whose close-range header ensured a dream start for the Young Ferns as they embark on the road to Azerbaijan, host nation of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals.

The Junior Matildas sought a response, and in the 21st minute, Sarah Carroll hoisted a free-kick from half-way towards the edge of the Young Ferns' penalty area. The Kiwis failed to deal with it decisively, which gave Breanna Sampson the chance to let fly from twenty yards. Lily Alfeld, New Zealand's goalkeeper, was easily equal to the task.

That warning shot roused the Young Ferns to greater heights, and with the eye-catching Hannah Carlsen driving them on, the host nation penned the visitors inside Australia's half more often than not throughout the remainder of the first spell.

In the 23rd minute, fullback Laura Merrin won the ball on the left and immediately fed Emma Fletcher, the Young Ferns' Vancouver Whitecaps recruit. She surged forward and let fly, only to see her shot blocked by Elizabeth Ralston. The rebound fell nicely into Carlsen's stride, but her twenty-five yarder was greedily grabbed by Penelope Edmonds.

Australia's goalkeeper was in action again two minutes later, thwarting Young Ferns captain Catherine "CJ" Bott as she unleashed a shot upon stripping Jessica Dillon of possession. It was a warning the Junior Matildas failed to heed, and they paid the price on the half-hour.

Merrin was the instigator, looming large on the left before slipping a pass to Fletcher, the catalyst. A combination of quick feet and a shimmy completely bemused two opponents, and by the time they had reacted, the playmaker had thumped a thunderous twenty-five yarder goalwards.

Edmonds made a fine parried save, only to find Jasmine Pereira following in like all good strikers should. She buried the loose ball where it belongs - 2-0, and the Young Ferns were good value for that scoreline.

And they should have added to it moments before half-time. A super move down the left featuring Merrin, Palmer and, tellingly, Fletcher, saw the last-mentioned get in behind the Australian rearguard and dash along the by-line before looking to set up Puketapu.

Unfortunately for the game's first scorer, Ralston got in a timely block to divert the ball to seeming safety, but Pereira had other ideas on that score

seconds later. Spotting Edmonds off her line, the game's second scorer uncorked a teasing chip which only just cleared the crossbar, the last act of a first half in which the Young Ferns were well worth their two-goal lead.

As one has come to expect, the Australians don't like it when their trans-tasman rivals do unto them what they normally do unto others, and with the wind at their backs in the second spell, they enjoyed more of the ball.

But the Young Ferns largely kept them at arm's length throughout the bulk of the half, although it must be said the host nation went right off the boil as an attacking force, in part due to tactical and personnel changes as coach Paul Temple rightly took the opportunity to try out a few things against opponents for whom this series serves as a key component of their preparations for the Asian U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers in November.

The Junior Matildas tried a few long-range efforts at first - Natalie Tobin's twenty-five yarder the most noteworthy on the hour, before being denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty in the 69th minute.

Bott's clumsy challenge on Sampson looked for all the world a spot-kick, but referee Anna-Marie Keighley further enhanced her growing reputation as an official who is reluctant to make apt calls on contentious incidents inside the eighteen-yard box by waving play on.

As Australia reacted to this "hometown decision", the Young Ferns looked to exploit their good fortune instantly by storming downfield in pursuit of a third goal. But for the intervention of Edmonds, Palmer's fiercely struck drive would have been the source of further celebration for the black-clad Kiwi combination.

Substitute Jolene Muir was also denied by Edmonds soon after, shooting tamely at the Junior Matildas' 'keeper after skipping inside two opponents on the right upon being released by a gorgeously weighted Palmer pass.

Carlsen - far more subdued in the second spell - went close with a thirty yard chip six minutes from time after substitute Jess Innes left Tobin wondering where the ball had gone, after which the Junior Matildas came on strong, initially via long-range efforts from Sampson and substitute Emma Checker, both of which were grabbed by Alfeld.

The visitors' desire to reduce the deficit was rewarded in the 89th minute, thanks to delightful play by Dillon, who evaded a couple of challenges in midfield before splitting the defence with a peach of a pass which put Amy Harrison in one-on-one with Alfeld. The 'keeper stood not a prayer - 2-1, and an Australian team with renewed hope of doing unto the Young Ferns what the Football Ferns did unto Mexico, in coming from two goals down to draw.

The Kiwi side are made of stern stuff, however, and repelled the best efforts of their rivals to retain their 2-1 advantage through to the final whistle and draw first blood in this three-match series between the U-17 women's teams of these age-old rivals.

Young Ferns: Alfeld; Moore, Jensen, Lee (Innes, 46), Merrin; Bott, Fletcher (Cleverley, 77), Carlsen; Pereira (Muir, 46), Puketapu (Rolston, 79), Palmer

Junior Matildas: Edmonds; Carroll (Checker, 71), Ralston, Henry, Metcalf; Harrison, Williams (McLaughlin, 46), Dillon, Tobin, Clarke (Caceres, 46) (Bass, 74); Sampson (booked, 42)

Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley

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