Soccer: Football Ferns beat Colombia 1-0

Football Ferns striker Sarah Gregorius. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand women's soccer team have notched a timely win a week out from the World Cup in Germany beating fellow finalists Colombia 1-0 in Apples, Switzerland this morning.

Betsy Hassett capped a sweeping counterattack with a cool lofted finish over the advancing Colombia goalkeeper Sandra Sepulved in the 70th minute.

New Zealand could have been comfortably ahead at halftime with striker Sarah Gregorius proving a handful for the Colombian defence and drawing a pair of excellent saves from Sepulved and firing a third shot that deflected just past the outstretched boot of Hannah Wilkinson.

After a 2-0 win over Wales on Thursday, New Zealand top the standings of the four nation tournament, two points ahead of Denmark who beat Wales 3-0 in the day's other match. The two teams square off on Tuesday morning (NZ time).

The victories over Wales and Colombia are the first consecutive wins for the New Zealand women over non-Oceania opposition in 30 years.

- NZPA