The Football Ferns have signed off on their inaugural Cup of Nations campaign with a loss after being edged out 2-0 by a strong-finishing Korea Republic at AAMI Park in Melbourne this evening.

In a hard-fought encounter of few chances, the difference proved to be the quality of Chelsea star Ji So-yun, who rose from the bench to hit a stunning second-half goal for the Koreans. Mira Moon was then able to make the game safe in the dying stages, following up a smart save from Erin Nayler to prod home a second.

The winning margin was perhaps harsh on New Zealand, who competed well and looked likely to take something from the game until Korea’s late burst.

After posting a defeat and a victory with differing line-ups so far in the tournament, coach Tom Sermanni again took the opportunity to shuffle his pack as he looks ahead to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June.

Only five players – goalkeeper Nayler, Ria Percival, Rebekah Stott, Betsy Hassett and Rosie White – kept their places from the side that defeated Argentina as skipper Ali Riley, Meikayla Moore, Annalie Longo, Sarah Gregorius, Katie Bowen and Emma Kete were all introduced.

Just starting the match was a memorable moment for Kete as she was bringing up a half century of appearances for her country. She very nearly marked it in headline-hitting fashion when great work from White released the returning veteran and she bared down on goal but couldn’t beat Jung Mi Kim with her driven effort towards the end of the first half.

The Ferns had lost a wealth of experience just a few moments earlier as Gregorius was forced off through injury, Aimee Phillips coming off the bench to earn her eighth cap and a bonus opportunity to impress Sermanni.

That chance for Kete was New Zealand’s highlight of an even first half while Nayler and Riley had to be alert at the other end on a couple of occasions to keep the score level.

With Kete going into the match with few minutes under her belt and putting in a real shift in that first spell, Sermanni withdrew her for the pacey Paige Satchell as the Ferns looked to break the deadlock.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first though with Korea enjoying more of the ball but both sides continuing to find clear-cut chances hard to come by.

A scoreless stalemate looked odds on but the classy So-yun had other ideas, twisting and turning impressively to work the ball onto her right boot before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Nayler.

The Ferns goalkeeper put in another strong showing between the sticks but was beaten again soon after, initially making a good low save but not being able to prevent Moon tucking away the follow up.

Shortly before falling behind, New Zealand may well have taken the lead themselves when defender Stott carried the ball forward and played in Satchell. But the substitute dragged her effort across the face of goal and Phillips couldn’t quite get a decent foot to it.

The result means Sermanni’s side finish their Cup of Nations campaign with two defeats and a win, 2-0 over Argentina on Sunday. They will look to build on that and another determined effort against a world-class opponent this evening when they come together in early April for a pair of clashes against Norway in Spain.

Match Details

Korea Republic 2 (Ji So-yun 74’, Mira Moon 87’)
New Zealand 0
HT: 0-0

New Zealand: 1. Erin Nayler (GK), 2. Ria Percival (4. CJ Bott 82’), 5. Meikayla Moore, 6. Rebekah Stott, 7. Ali Riley (c), 10. Annalie Longo, 11. Sarah Gregorius (18. Aimee Phillips 34’), 12. Betsy Hassett (20. Daisy Cleverley 82’), 13. Rosie White (9. Katie Rood 86’), 14. Katie Bowen (16. Katie Duncan 64’), 22. Emma Kete (19. Paige Satchell 46’)
Substitutes not used: 3. Anna Green, 8. Abby Erceg, 15. Sarah Morton, 17. Stephanie Skilton, 21. Anna Leat (GK), 23. Victoria Esson (GK)
Coach: Tom Sermanni

Article added: Wednesday 06 March 2019