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Home / Rotorua Daily Post / Sport

NZ women hold Brazil to draw

By Martin Bottomley, sport@dailypost.co.nz
Rotorua Daily Post·
20 Jun, 2014 09:00 PM4 mins to read

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ALL SQUARE: Brazilian flair couldn't help the women's international team in Taupo, finishing 0-0 against the Football Ferns. PHOTO/RORY SCOTT IMG-0242

ALL SQUARE: Brazilian flair couldn't help the women's international team in Taupo, finishing 0-0 against the Football Ferns. PHOTO/RORY SCOTT IMG-0242

The Football Ferns and Brazil have fought out a scoreless draw in their latest international in Taupo.

It was a physical match, in strong winds, that saw the New Zealanders growing in confidence as the game progressed.

The Ferns' defence stood firm in the face of the flair and creativity that you would expect from an experienced Brazilian side.

As the visitors' frustration started to take effect, the Ferns had a strong finish to the first half with several counter attacks breaking at pace from defence to attack, most notably up the right wing starting from pacey right back Ria Percival.

As the second half started, the wind was now behind the New Zealand women and the message at half time to push forward was clear to the excited audience that had braved the cold conditions to enjoy the match.

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Tempers flared and a few overzealous challenges in the latter stages led to cards being produced. Two late chances for the Silver Ferns rattled the underside of the bar and called the keeper into action.

Ferns coach Tony Readings said he was pleased to see his 20th ranked side prove they are capable of competing with anyone in the world after holding the 6th ranked Brazilians to consecutive draws. He said going forward they would be concentrating on capitalising on the good performances and converting them into wins.

Readings said although the conditions were better than the torrential rain experienced in Auckland on Monday, the weather was still a factor in Taupo.

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"It was very windy and it affected the game and made it quite scrappy and I don't think it suits either team," Readings said.

"Both teams like to play football and both teams have got technically talented players on the pitch and neither team was able to establish any sort of stranglehold on the game.

"But again we're going to go away disappointed because we hit the crossbar in the last five minutes and we missed a golden opportunity 1-on-1 with the 'keeper in the last five minutes.

"But we also can hold our heads up high that we battled for 90 minutes against a team that is big, strong and physical."

Playing at home for the first time in two years - a span of 27 internationals - Readings spoke of the desire to bring the team together in New Zealand more often, with the results against the world number six side this week helping the cause.

"It's always good to be at home and good for the public of New Zealand to see what the girls are like in the flesh.

"The last time we were here was 2012 and we've come a long way since then and it's good for everyone to see that and it definitely raises the girls.

"They find another level when they come back home because they've got the home support and the home surroundings and it's a good place to be so we definitely want to play here more often."

Thursday's result ensures the Football Ferns are unbeaten against Brazil over the last three matches, including a victory in the 2013 Valais Cup, and while that points to the improvement of the New Zealand team, Readings is hungry for more.

"I'm bitterly disappointed we didn't win one of those games and I know the players will feel the same.

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"I think we're actually a bit tired of saying 'we've come such a long way' and 'getting a draw against Brazil shows how far we've come' because we believe we're beyond that and we believe we should be beating these teams, particularly on home soil.

"We want to start getting away from that and pushing on and beating these teams more regularly because we've got one year until the World Cup and a draw against Brazil might not be good enough."

The next confirmed action for the Football Ferns will be the Oceania Fifa Women's World Cup qualifiers in October in Papua New Guinea, with international matches still being looked at in September as preparation.

Full time: New Zealand 0, Brazil 0

Football Ferns (and substitutes): Erin Nayler, Ria Percival, Katie Hoyle, Abby Erceg (capt), Rebekah Stott, Ali Riley, Amber Hearn, Kirsty Yallop (Annalie Longo 64'), Betsy Hassett, Rosie White (Sarah Gregorius 60'), Hannah Wilkinson (Helen Collins 87').

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