Soccer: Football Ferns striker primed for US challenge

Amber Hearn. Photo / Getty Image

Football Ferns' striker Amber Hearn will play her 50th game on Sunday when New Zealand line up against the United States in Texas, but she says another piece of history is driving her.

The Ferns have beaten the world No 1 United States just once in nine attempts - that victory came almost 25 years ago - and while they start at long odds to get a result, Hearn said that is exactly what they are targeting.

"For us it's the best game we could play," Hearn said. "Playing the top team in the world six months out from the Olympics will let us know exactly where we are and where we need to be against tier-one nations.

"We need to be able to maintain winning performances and get results, including against the big nations. We're not the sort of team that will go into a match not believing we can get a result."

Now one of six Ferns playing professionally in Germany, Hearn has provided the main supply of goals for the national team since returning from a self-enforced three-year absence in 2008. She has notched 23 goals in 41 internationals since ending her exile, impressive considering she is occasionally employed as an attacking midfielder.

While rampant form in the Oceania women's nation cup in 2010 boosted her career tally, she is no flat track bully as vital goals against more vaunted opposition like Argentina, Italy, and the Netherlands testify.

But Hearn knows she faces an even tougher test against a United States side which has conceded just two goals in their last eight games.

"We're certainly aware of their record and know that they haven't been scored against in a while, so obviously breaching that defence is something we're definitely keen on doing.

The match, in Frisco, is the first for New Zealand since a 2011 World Cup which saw the team's overseas stocks swell to over a dozen, but also saw rivals Canada recruit five of their World Cup staff.

Despite the losses in personnel, Hearn had confidence the Ferns could topple the Americans for the second time.

"As individuals and as a group we're a lot more experienced now. We all know what we need to do and the girls are really hungry."

The match kicks off at 10am on Sunday.