The Young Ferns camp was understandably ecstatic after winning their final match in a two-year campaign which has culminated in hosting the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals. “This is huge for New Zealand women's football!”, declared coach Paul Temple after his young charges humbled South American champions Columbia 3-1 at Wellington Stadium. “We went into the game trying to do New Zealand proud in this match, play attacking football, and get a decent win. I'm absolutely delighted with the players' performance. We dominated the game, created chances and scored goals, and proved, by beating the South American champions, we can compete against top teams. “It's exciting to be involved in games like that. Hopefully we've left the New Zealand public with a good impression of New Zealand women's teams”. That's the understatement of the month taken care of! Although hat-trick heroine Rosie White came close to matching it with this gem. “At one goal, I was pretty happy, but with three, I'm pretty ecstatic!! “I knew we had to score today after going so close in our previous two matches. To score in a FIFA competition is a huge confidence booster. And to hear the crowd chanting my name … I wasn't sure what they were saying, but it's an extremely special

feeling”. Captain Briony Fisher is “a very proud captain” after leading the squad to victory in their final match together. “We wanted to win for us. We deserved that win. Our minimum goal was the quarter-finals, so when we lost our second game, I was completely heartbroken - we all were. But we never gave up”. “They're such a resilient bunch”, said Temple of the way his team bounced back so strongly to reward him with “the pinnacle of my coaching career so far. They're made of pretty strong stuff. It's important that we build on the back of this, and leave a legacy for women's football”. “It's amazing that New Zealand has got behind not just a women's football tournament, but a youth women's tournament”, said Fisher, beaming proudly. Temple quickly added, “I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the New Zealand public and the media for their support of this tournament. We're very humbled by the attention the team's been getting, particularly over the last ten days”. They've richly deserved it, and in their final display, have made a statement of which they are rightly proud. They've done New Zealand proud as well.