New Zealand's women's football team has fallen 2-1 to Japan in their opening Group B game at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany this morning.
In front of a crowd of around 15,000 at Bochum's Rewirpower Stadium, the Football Ferns went down early after a pin point through-ball from
Shinobu Ohno was lobbed past defenders Rebecca Smith and Abby Erceg for Yuki Nagasato to chip keeper Jenny Bindon to score in the sixth minute.
New Zealand quickly hit back through Amber Hearn, who got her head on the end of a perfect Ria Percival cross to score at the back post to equalise six minutes later.
Despite Japan being heavily favoured and dominating possession, the Football Ferns went into the break with scores even, and looked to try and hold the Japanese out for the second half, and take their chances on the counter attack.
However after substitute Mana Iwabuchi was brought down by captain Rebecca Smith after a storming run on the edge of the box directly in front of goal, Aya Miyama curled the subsequent free kick over the wall past a diving Bindon to score the winner in the 68th minute.
While the team will be disappointed not to come away with a point against a strong Japan, Football Ferns coach John Herdman was proud of his team's performance.
"It was a good match for the crowd," he told Fifa.com. "The Japanese team dazzled everybody, as per usual, particularly in the final 20 minutes after Iwabuchi came on. She's a wonderful player. We tried to come out of it with at least a point, but Japan don't give up that easily. Still, I'm proud of my players."
Japan lead Group B on three points, after Mexico and England shared the spoils in their opening match 1-1.
New Zealand's next match is against England in Dresden on Saturday morning NZT, before facing Mexico in Sinsheim on July 6 NZT.
- NZ Herald staff
