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RP 09/06/06
U-20 Women Start Argentina Tour On Winning Note
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand's Under-20 Women's Football team commenced their week-long tour of Argentina on a history-making winning note on Saturday morning, NZ time, downing one of the country's leading club teams, River Plate, 2-1, at the Argentinian Olympic headquarters.
It is New Zealand's first-ever triumph of any calibre in matches played beyond these shores against teams from the football-crazy South American continent, the only victories recorded coming in 1988, when the All Whites twice downed a Young Brazil selection in a four-match tour of New Zealand.
Having stepped off the plane less than fifteen hours previously, the New Zealand girls found the initial going tough against a technically and physically stronger River Plate team, who currently lie second in the Argentinian women's league, and boasted three Under-20 internationals and one senior international in their team for this match.
But the side sporting seven changes from the line-up which won the Oceania Under-20 Women's World Cup Tournament Final in Samoa in April, including debutants Grace Vincent and goalkeeper Bianca Mori, held firm, with the 0-0 half-time scoreline being maintained well into the second spell.
River Plate spurned the chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot early in the second half after lively captain Pia Gomez was upended, and their profligacy was punished in merciless fashion by their Kiwi opponents in the 63rd minute.
Having finally grabbed the upper hand in the battle, New Zealand made it count on the scoreboard when Ria Percival sent her Lynn-Avon United team-mate, Sarah Gregorius, hurtling through the River Plate rearguard. The striker coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Guadalupe Colello, much to the delight of her team-mates.
Eleven minutes later, New Zealand doubled their advantage in similar fashion. This time, two Three Kings United team-mates combined, Maggie Lankshear threading the needle to allow fifteen-year-old substitute Merissa Smith to score with her first touch, having come on as a replacement seconds earlier.
The Argentinian team responded with a splendid solo goal by Luciana Ardaiz in the 78th minute, but their cohesive play, together with the fitness work which the
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 Ria Percival
 Maggie Lankshear
 Merissa Smith
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New Zealand squad have been focusing on since qualifying for August's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Finals in Russia, saw the Kiwi team score a hard-earned win.
A delighted coach, John Herdman, was well pleased with the efforts of his young charges. “It was a real introduction to South American football. The speed and technique of the River Plate players were not like anything our players have experienced before, but after thirty-five minutes, they adapted well.
“The performance has provided our young team with a lot of confidence, particularly in light of their second half display where, in stages, they really dominated the game.
“When you take into account that goalkeeper Bianca Mori, midfielder Grace Vincent and striker Merissa Smith were all making their international debuts, the result is all the more pleasing. These players showed great composure and certainly contributed to a strong first-up performance”.
The New Zealand U-20 Women's Football team continue their week-long tour of Argentina on Tuesday morning, NZ time, when they take on fellow FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Finalists Argentina at 6am.
Further matches, against the Argentina “A” squad - the nation's senior women's team - and a second encounter with the Argentinian U-20 squad, are scheduled on Thursday and Saturday morning, both also commencing at 6am NZ time. All three fixtures take place at the Argentinian Football Association's 48-hectare football complex in Ezeiza, thirty kilometres from downtown Buenos Aires.
Match details:
River Plate 1 (L. Ardaiz (78)), New Zealand U-20s 2 (S. Gregorius (63), M. Smith (74)) HT 0-0
New Zealand line-up:
Bianca Mori; Ria Percival, Hannah Bromley, Julia Baldwin, Emma Harrison; Maggie Lankshear, Grace Vincent (Katie Hoyle, 79), Kirsty Yallop (Annalie Longo, 79); Emma Kete (Renee Leota, 60) (Abby Erceg, 87), Sarah Gregorius (Caitlin Campbell, 65), Helen Collins (Merissa Smith, 73)
Non-playing substitutes: Aroon Clansey, Hannah Rishworth.
Unavailable: Emma Humphries, Ali Riley
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