The Ford Football Ferns took on the world champions and fought, going down 4-0, in a game marked by a courageous first half for the young side. Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington put on a show as 12,508 people flooded into Sky Stadium – a record for a senior women’s international football match in Aotearoa New Zealand ahead of a huge year for the sport.

Leaning into their underdog tag, the Ferns put on a particularly courageous first half performance, absorbing the USA pressure and utilising the pace and energy of young college forward duo Ava Collins and Gabi Rennie up top. Collins especially took the opportunity to impose herself on Naomi Girma, Crystal Dunn and Lindsey Horan.

With a number of first choice centrebacks unavailable for this series, the squad’s most experienced duo captain Ali Riley and Anna Green slotted into centreback, while Grace Neville marked her first official camp with her first cap, becoming the 199th Ford Football Fern.

Tasked with containing World Cup winners Mallory Swanson and Alex Morgan, Neville was composed at right back, drawing the crowd’s appreciation with her close control and determination.

In the 18^th minute Erin Nayler saved with a foot as Lindsey Horan was left free in the middle of the penalty area.

The USA had the ball in the back of the net in the 42nd minute, but Horan’s effort was ruled out for offside, and the half finished 0-0 after an organised defensive performance from the Ferns.

USA head coach Vlatko Andonovski wrung the changes at half time, bringing on four substitutes, and it quickly paid off for the visitors, with first Trinity Rodman spurning a free header, while a trademark Rose Lavelle surge and shot missed the target.

The deadlock was broken in the 52nd minute, with Mallory Swanson converting a header at the back post. On the hour mark Alex Morgan doubled the visitors’ advantage, slotting past Nayler from a tight angle for her 120^th interanational goal in her 201st appearance for the USA.

Swanson doubled her tally three minutes later after racing clear of the Ferns defence, and the US scoring was rounded off by Lynn Williams capping off her return to competitive football with a goal in the 74th minute.

Grace Wisnewski became Ford Football Fern number 200, coming on in the 71st minute, the latest 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medallist to make their senior international debut.

While there was disappointment that a 20-minute period in the second half cost the team a truly historic result, senior Fern Liv Chance said there was a lot the team could take pride in from the performance.

“I was really proud of the team,” she said.

“I think we had a game plan and we were stuck to it. In the first half I think we were hard to break down and, you know, we made those last ditch challenges and we kept it tight at the back,” she said.

The togetherness displayed by the Ferns, especially to finish the game, particularly pleased Klimková.  

“Our focus was really to stay together.

And I really believe that everybody around saw it. We finished the game with our attacking corner, we were on our front foot, we didn't give up, we were fighting to the end of the game.

And that's something what this team believes that we can do, doesn't matter what we will keep, uh, competing. And it was really great to see that we kept it till the end of the game.

Obviously there was a period of time and I think that's a huge lesson learned, uh, from us for the next game.”

The Ferns will take on the USA in the second of the two-game series on Saturday 21 January at Eden Park.

Article added: Wednesday 18 January 2023