Football Ferns draw again with Brazil

Hannah Wilkinson climbs up for a header. Photo / Getty Images

Scoring chances were few and far between on Thursday as the Football Ferns and Brazil battled to a 0-0 draw in the second match of their two-game series at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.

Playing their 200th international match, the New Zealand side couldn't find the same rhythm in possession in cold conditions in front of 1507 fans in Taupo as they produced in Monday's 1-1 draw in Auckland, with both teams limiting quality scoring chances for the other.

The closest either side came to scoring was an Amber Hearn header which crashed back off the crossbar in stoppage time while Erin Nayler did superbly to save a goal-bound Brazilian effort at point blank range mid-way through the first half.

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

"Today 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," Readings said.

"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 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.

"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.