Football Ferns draw with Korea DPR

Hannah Wilkinson scored for the Football Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

The Football Ferns opened the Women's International Tri-Series on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Korea DPR at Bill McKinlay Park.

In the first of two games for the New Zealand side on home soil before completing the rest of the FIFA Women's World Cup preparation offshore, the Football Ferns acquitted themselves well against the world number seven Korea DPR side.

Hannah Wilkinson gave the Football Ferns an 11th minute lead to a huge cheer from the vocal home support, volleying in from just inside the area after excellent pressure won possession back quickly.

But the visitors rebounded and pulled level 10 minutes later when Jo Yun Mi bravely headed home at the near post.

The second period produced far fewer scoring chances for both sides with the game largely played in midfield where there was a fierce battle for possession with each team matching the other in the physical moments with Katie Hoyle and Annalie Longo standing tall for New Zealand.

Football Ferns coach Tony Readings said his side stuck to task against an opponent intent on forcing the issue out of possession.

"What we're talking about a lot at the moment is our intent to do the right things," Readings said.

"We've got a quite a few good games coming up and if our intent is right then we've got the ability and potential in the team to keep getting better.

"Today there was a real intent for the whole match to play to win, to take on their pressure - which we know is one of the best in the world, that's why they are the seventh-ranked team."

"I think if keep showing that same intent and the ability to learn and take those learnings and grow in games, like we did today, then that's a really good sign for us.

The game ebbed and flowed for both sides over the course of the 93 minutes played with Readings happy at the way his side dug in and dealt with periods of Korea DPR pressure before rebounding to threaten themselves.

"It wasn't all one way in the game at all and we were on top for long periods as well.

"When we play in the World Cup, every team in our group and the teams we play beyond that are going to be good enough that they are going to have sustained spells of pressure. We've got to defend well then we've got to be able to counter attack or reassert ourselves and today was a good lesson again for that."

The Football Ferns came closest to opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes, Amber Hearn's exquisite touch releasing Wilkinson to the byline where her cutback was met by Gregorius but a recovering Korea DPR defender did enough to deflect her shot just wide.

But just five minutes later the Football Ferns did go ahead as Wilkinson opened the scoring to a raucous cheer from the home supporters.

The Football Ferns press in the Korean defensive third won the ball back and after good work from Ali Riley it fell to the Northland product who emphatically volleyed in from just inside the penalty area.

The visitors responded after going behind and a combination of physicality and a dangerous counter attack was proving fruitful and it eventually gave them their equaliser in the 21st minute. An excellent whipped cross after a quick attack in transition came to the near post where it was bravely met by Yun Mi and her diving header left Football Ferns goalkeeper Erin Nayler with no chance.

The goal boosted the visitors and the home side were forced to deal with a period of pressure which the Football Ferns back four did well, Erceg and Rebekah Stott intervening when required as the Korea DPR worked the ball to the edge of the box several times without threatening Nayler's goal.

Erceg and company did survive a scare when the skipper was robbed on the edge of the area but the Ferns rearguard recovered in the nick of time to scramble the ball clear.

The second half produced little by way of clear cut scoring chances, the visitors going closest from an 80th minute header which looped just over Nayler's crossbar. New Zealand's best chance of the half was carved out by Wilkinson as the striker took the ball down before swivelling and forcing 'keeper Hong Myong Hui to dive to parry the effort from 18 yards.

But with both sides working hard without the ball in midfield, regular penetration of either back four was rare and neither side could find the goal needed to win the contest.