From the start, New Zealand took the attack to the group favourites in a game the Junior Ferns had to win to keep their destiny in their own hands. Rosie White and Bridgette Armstrong both forced sharp saves from Korean goalkeeper Hong Myong Hui inside the opening five minutes.
But, when Yun Hyon-Hi slotted the ball past the again impressive Erin Nayler in the 12th minute, New Zealand were playing catch-up and a Kim Un Hyang penalty, after an unlucky handball from an unsighted Rosie White, made the Junior Ferns’ task doubly tough.
New Zealand refused to lie down though and reward for pushing bodies forward came in the form of an 90th minute goal from the head of Armstrong.
But an equaliser, and the point they needed to stay alive in the tournament, never came.
“I can’t ask anymore of the players with a performance like that,” coach Tony Readings says.
“We’re talking about an opposition that always performs well, they’ve made the last two finals, won it in 2006 and bring a core of players to this tournament who won the U-17 World Cup two years ago. But we deserved at least a point out of that match based on the performance.
“It’s actually a game we thought we could win and the players have done a lot of preparation and have given everything they could today. On another day we would have come away with a result to keep us in the tournament but the girls never gave up and I think the country can be extremely proud of them today.”
Hong was called into action again in the 27th minute when a deep Anna Green free kick almost sneaked under the crossbar, while White set up Armstrong moments later but the defender’s header went over the bar.
New Zealand also threatened from open play and a 73rd minute shot from White from a tight angle after Betsy Hassett unlocked the defence missed by the narrowest of margins.
At the other end Nayler, who only forced her way into the squad for the qualifying tournament earlier in the year, kept the Junior Ferns in the game, her best moment a double save in the 54th minute from Ho Un Byol and Kim Myong Gum.
The goalkeeper’s performances have not gone unnoticed by her coach, with Readings picking Naylor and White as the standouts in a heartening team effort.
“A major find for us has been Erin Nayler in goal. She was outstanding in the first game and played unbelievably today so I’m sure she’s got a big future ahead of her.
“I’m loath to single out players in such a good team performance but I think Rosie White was exceptional again today. You’re always going to get 100 per cent commitment from Rosie and you could see Korea had a player to try and nullify her. But even then she still caused them lots of problems and was a talisman for us.”
In the earlier game in Group B, Sweden and Brazil maintained their playoff hopes with a 1-1 draw while in Group A the hosts booked their spot in the last 16 with a 3-1 win over Colombia in Bochum, and France are a step closer to joining them after a 2-0 win over Costa Rica.
New Zealand now travel to Dresden to take on South American champions Brazil in their final match.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010
Group B: New Zealand 1 (Bridgette Armstrong 90’) Korea DPR 2 (YUN Hyon Hi 12’, KIM Un Hyang 65’ pen)
Halftime 0-1
New Zealand: 20-Erin NAYLER (GK), 3-Anna GREEN (Captain), , 5-Briony FISHER, 6-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 7-Hannah WILKINSON, 8-Betsy HASSETT, 9-Hannah WALL, 10-Annalie LONGO (19-Terri-Amber CARLSON 85), 11-Rosie WHITE, 13-Nadia PEARL (12-Claudia CRASBORN 74), 14-Renee LEOTA.
Substitutes not used: 1-Victoria ESSON (GK), 2-Elizabeth MILNE, 4-Chelsey WOOD, 15-Emily COOPER, 16-Julia LYNDS (GK), 17-Sarah MCLAUGHLIN, 18-Lauren MATHIS, 21-Lisa KEMP.
Coach: Tony Readings
Cautions: Hannah WILKINSON 42’
Korea DPR: 1-HONG Myong Hui (GK), 2-HYON Un Hui, 4-YUN Song Mi, 5-WON Un Ha, 7-CHOE Un Ju, 10-CHOE Mi Gyong (12-KIM Un Ju 84), 11-KIM Myong Gum, 13-KIM Chung Sim (captain/8-KIM Un Hyang 60), 14-YUN Hyon Hi (15-HO Un Byol 47), 17-JON Myong Hwa, 20-SIN Sol Ryon.
Substitutes not used: 3-JO Myong Hui, 6-RYO Song Mi, 9-CHA Ok, 16-KANG Un Gyong, 18-THAK Un Mi (RGK), 19-JON Hong Yon, 21-RI Jin Sim (RGK).
Coach: CHOE Kwang Sok
Next game
New Zealand v Brazil
Dresden
July 20 2.30pm local (12.30am July 21 NZT)
Live on TV One
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
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