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Young Football Ferns suffer Venezuelan smash and grab
AUCKLAND – New Zealand have an uphill battle to reach the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after losing 1-2 to Venezuela in a match they otherwise dominated.
The Young Football Ferns ended the game ahead in possession (64%), territory, and shots (21 to 10) but behind in the most important measure after Ysaura Viso netted in the 24th and 67th minutes.
Viso’s first, a well taken early shot from outsider of the area in the 24th minute, was the South American’s first attempt of the game and levelled the scores at one apiece after Kate Loye’s 10th minute goal gave New Zealand reward for their early dominance.
Loye cut an imposing figure in the middle of the park dictating the tempo in as fluid passing display from New Zealand while wingers Liv Chance and Holly Patterson consistently carved inroads through the Vinotinto’s defence.
Viso hit the post with a header seconds into the second half but made no mistake 20 minutes later latching on to a long ball behind the New Zealand centre backs and beating Chloe-May Guerts one on one to put her side ahead.
Moments earlier, Maleike Pacheco denied Tessa McPherson from close range and the Venezuelan keeper proved a thorn in the Young Ferns side, denying Chance, Loye, Brittany Dudley-Smith Megan Lee a late equaliser.
New Zealand coach Dave Edmondson was in reflective mood after the match.
“We came here for two things tonight,” said Edmondson. “One was a positive result, obviously, and the other was the type of performance we wanted to produce. We’ve got one of those; I thought we played some pretty good stuff until perhaps that last 15 minutes when it was getting pretty desperate.
“We played to our strengths, we attacked wide. Stephanie Skilton gave us a threat down the middle and our three in the midfield were outstanding.
“We didn’t get the result and more annoying than anything was that it came from our mistakes and from something that we’d seen from Venezuela before. They have a pacey striker up front and they look to go direct to her. The two times we let it bounce or didn’t put a challenge on that first one we got punished for it, and that’s international football.”
“It’s a horrible lesson for the girls but that’s we’re here to learn.”
In the group’s early game New Zealand’s next opponent Spain overran Japan 4-1 to lead the standings, while in Group D Brazil beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1, and Canada defeated Ghana 1-0.
New Zealand play Spain at 8am on Friday morning (NZT).
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – Group C
Couva, Trinidad
New Zealand 1 (Kate LOYE 10) Venezuela 2 (Ysaura VISO 24, 67)
Halftime: 1-1
New Zealand: 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (GK), 2-Rachel HEAD (13-Megan LEE 84), 3-Tessa MCPHERSON, 4-Olivia CHANCE (10-Hannah WONG 84), 6-Evie MILLYNN, 7-Holly PATTERSON, 8-Kate LOYE, 12-Stephanie SKILTON (5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH 70), 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain), 17-Sivitha BOYCE, 18-Rebecca BURROWS.
Substitutes not used: 9-Hannah CARLSEN, 11-Grace PARKINSON, 15-Kate CARLTON, 16-Jessie MATHEWS, 19-Michelle WINDSOR, 20-Jess REDDAWAY (RGK), 21-Lily ALFELD (RGK).
Head Coach: Dave EDMONDSON
Venezuela: 1-Maleike PACHECO (GK), 2-Genesis MORENO, 3-Yaribeth ULACIO, 4-Soleidys RENGEL, 5-Yurimar TOLEDO, 6-Maria RODRIGUEZ, 8-Maria CARRERO (14-Natasha ROSAS 46), 9-Ysaura VISO, 10-Marialba ZAMBRANO (captain), 11-Michelle CLEMENTE (18-Joemar GUARECUCO 75), 17-Maryeling MARTINEZ.
Substitutes not used: 7-Paola VILLAMIZAR, 12-Nathaly NATERA (RGK), 13-Orliany MARCANO (RGK), 15-Anna ALVARADO, 16-Genesis MONCADA, 19-Silvana ARON, 20-Jessyca MONTES, 21-Wendy PADILLA.
Head Coach: Kenneth ZSEREMETA
Cautions: Maria RODRIGUEZ
Young Football Ferns Schedule
New Zealand v Spain
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 9, 4pm (8am, Sept 10 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3 from 7:45am
New Zealand v Japan
Scarbrough, Tobago
Sept 13, 4pm (8am, Sept 14 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 7:45am
