After consecutive 1-0 losses to China and Korea DPR, the New Zealand side looked on course for their first win of 2014 when Amber Hearn struck eight minutes before half time only for the Mexicans to fight back through goals to Renae Cuellar and Teresa Noyola.
Cuellar levelled the score at 1-1 just two minutes before the halftime break before Noyola’s 73rd minute strike secured the result for the 25th ranked Mexican side over the 16th ranked Football Ferns.
A disappointed New Zealand coach Tony Readings said his team let their lower-ranked opponents off the hook.
“We started fairly brightly in the first half and when we went 1-0 up we relaxed after that and we let Mexico back into the game,” Readings said.
“From there they equalised through some sloppy play by us and we dropped below our standard in the second half.”
Readings says his side have learned a lot over the three matches in China, with the team raising their standards in possession of the ball despite coming out on the wrong side of the score lines.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the results but we can reflect on how we’ve improved in possession,” Readings said.
“We have become a lot more comfortable and composed with the ball and we’ve taken some huge steps, so there are positives moving forwards.
“After these games there are some simple and clear areas for improvement; we need to strike a better balance between being patient and composed and when to be positive and creative in finding goal scoring opportunities,” Readings said.
The Football Ferns now move on to the Cyprus Cup with the first match of that event coming on 5 March against Ireland.
Women’s Invitational Tournament – China
New Zealand 1 (Amber Hearn 37’)
Mexico 2 (Renae Cuellar 43’, Teresa Noyola 73’)
Halftime: 1-1
New Zealand: 21. Rebecca Rolls (GK), 2. Ria Percival, 4. Katie Hoyle, 5. Abby Erceg (capt), 6. Rebekah Stott (15. Meikayla Moore 65’), 9. Amber Hearn, 11. Kirsty Yallop (12. Betsy Hassett 65’), 13. Rosie White (10. Sarah Gregorius 55’), 16. Annalie Longo, 17. Hannah Wilkinson (20. Helen Collins 73’), 18. Katie Bowen
Substitutes not used: 1. Erin Nayler (GK), 3. CJ Bott, 19. Evie Millynn, 24. Emily Jensen, 26. Megan Lee
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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