Football: Ferns' win dream Cup start

Emma Rolston (centre) celebrates her goal for the Junior Football Ferns, one of two that took the team to victory over Paraguay. Photo / AP

Two goals just before halftime give Under-20 side a boost in Montreal tournament

The Junior Football Ferns made a dream start in the Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup yesterday, claiming a 2-0 win over Paraguay in Montreal.

First-half goals from Emma Rolston and Stephanie Skilton paved the way to victory in the Group D encounter at the Olympic Stadium as neither team could find a second-half scoring touch.

Rolston's opener came with five minutes remaining in the first half as the striker curled a left-footed effort inside the post from the edge of the area.

Kiwi celebrations erupted again just three minutes later as Skilton, who was influential throughout, finished into an open goal after excellent work from Katie Bowen saw the captain chase down possession and provide the cross which produced the goal.

This is the third victory for a New Zealand Under-20 side at a Fifa Women's World Cup tournament after wins over Switzerland in 2012 and Chile in 2008.

The next match for the Junior Football Ferns is on Sunday as they take on France - 5-1 winners over Costa Rica in the day's other Group D clash.

Meanwhile, new All Whites coach Anthony Hudson will take charge of three internationals in just over three months, with New Zealand set to play two games in Asia in November.

New Zealand will play China PR on November 14 and Malaysia four days later, according to fixtures on the Fifa.com website.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin said the website had "jumped the gun" by publishing the dates.

But he confirmed the All Whites were "close" to confirming two games during the November Fifa window.

"We are aiming to have two games in Asia over that time and we are hoping for two fixtures which align with our likely qualification path to the 2018 World Cup," Martin said.

Hudson will get his first chance to work with the All Whites when they travel to Uzbekistan next month but will meet many of his players for the first time this weekend when he takes charge of one of the teams in a Wellington Phoenix inter-squad match as they prepare for the new A-League season.

A 20-strong All Whites squad is due to be named tomorrow and will assemble in Doha in Qatar on September 1 to prepare for the match a week later.

The fixture falls within a Fifa window, so first-choice players should be available.

New Zealand A also have a match scheduled with the Wellington Phoenix on August 17 in Taupo.