A shot from Hassett rebounded to Yallop just inside the box and the midfielder showed poise and close control to slip a covering defender and beat the closing goalkeeper for the 38th-minute opener.
Hassett doubled the score just three minutes later when she drove a firm shot towards the back post that deflected off a defender and gave New Zealand a healthy halftime lead which the Swiss cut into only seven minutes from full time.
In keeping with the aim of trying different combinations throughout the tournament with an eye on the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June and July, New Zealand coach John Herdman made six changes in the second half and trialled players in new roles from start to finish.
“Tactically, we went back to what we know today and while we still tried people in different positions they were operating in a system they were confident in, and that got the best out of them,” Herdman says. “It should have been a very safe score line at half time after any number of chances in the first 25 minutes.
“In football terms, Switzerland are a emerging nation in Europe and we knew they would be very tough. They finished fourth in this tournament last year and got very close to qualifying for the World Cup but lost narrowly to England.”
In the day’s other Group B encounter, the Netherlands continued their good form with a 2-1 win over France that keeps them in pole position for top spot and a place in next Thursday’s final, although the winner of New Zealand’s clash against France on Tuesday morning (NZT) could potentially overtake them if the Dutch lose to Switzerland in their final group game.
A win over France would at least guarantee a third consecutive top-four finish at the Cyprus Cup but New Zealand will be keeping things up their sleeve when they meet the world number eight.
“We’ll still have to play it safe and be careful not to reveal our World Cup plans. There were scouts at our game today and there will be some watching us play France as well I’m sure,” Herdman says.
“We have given everyone some game time during the first couple of games and that has spurred a healthy competitiveness among the players which we’ll take into the next game.”
England and Mexico, two of New Zealand’s World Cup opponents present in the tournament’s other groups, had contrasting days with the English losing 2-0 to Auld rivals Scotland and Mexico holding South Korea to a 1-1 draw.
2011 Cyprus Cup
New Zealand 2 (Kirsty YALLOP 38‘, Betsy HASSETT 41‘)
Switzerland 1 (Sandy MAENDLY 83‘)
Halftime: 2-0
GSZ Stadium, Larnaca
New Zealand: Jenny BINDON (GK), Anna GREEN (Ria PERCIVAL 46‘), Abby ERCEG (Kristy HILL 46’), Rebecca SMITH (Captain), Ali RILEY, Katie HOYLE (Terri-Amber CARLSON 64), Betsy HASSETT, Kirsty YALLOP (Hayley MOORWOOD 46‘), Rosie WHITE, Amber HEARN (Annalie LONGO 64’), Hannah WILKINSON (Emma KETE 46‘).
Substitutes not used: Aroon CLANSEY (RGK), Olivia CHANCE, Sarah GREGORIUS, Hannah WALL
Coach: John HERDMAN
Results
Match Day 1
France 2 Switzerland 0
Canada 1 Scotland 0
Korea Republic 3 Northern Ireland 1
Russia 0 Mexico 0
England 2 Italy 0
New Zealand 1 Netherlands 4
Match Day 2
France 1 Netherlands 2
England 0 Scotland 2
Northern Ireland 1 Russia 2
Korea Republic 1 Mexico 1
Italy 0 Canada 1
New Zealand 2 Switzerland 1
Remaining NZ games
New Zealand v France
March 7, 2pm (Mar 8, 1am NZT)
GSP Stadium, Nicosia
Finals Day
March 9 – match to be determined
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz