AUCKLAND – An Australian penalty has denied the Young Football Ferns a result on the third and final day of the Future Stars U-17 football women’s football tournament at North Harbour Stadium
on Saturday evening.
The 44th minute spot kick was initially missed by captain Tameka Butt but referee Chris Kerr ruled Ferns keeper Charlotte Wood moved before the whistle and the penalty was subsequently retaken,
and converted, by Cloee Colohan.
In the earlier title-decider between USA and Germany, American captain Kristen Mewis banked a second-half double to lead her team to a 3-2 win.
New Zealandcoach Paul Temple says the quadrangular tournament – in which New Zealand finished bottom of the four teams – has been an eye-opener for his girls.
“USA and Germany were a class act and we’re a few levels behind them to be honest,” said Temple.
“But at least the girls now know where they need to be and over the next nine months we’ll be doing everything we can to get them mentally and physically prepared for this World Cup.”
The Ferns’ 1-0 loss to Australia came despite long periods of possession and several close shaves.
A Leah Gallie header was cleared off the line in the 46th minute while Annalie Longo and Sarah McLaughlin both had shots saved in the 63rd minute.
Second half substitute Lauren Murray then made an immediate impact with her 30-yard left-foot volley hitting the bar.
The Australians also went close with two one-on-one breakaways saved in the last 15 minutes – Charlotte Wood doing well to keep the score to just one.
Temple admits he was disappointed not to get a result.
“We absolutely hammered them in the second half and it was by far and away the best performance we’ve had in the tournament,” he said
“The main thing we need to work on is our fitness and our strength so that will be our focus for the next few months.”
No love was lost between the trans-Tasman rivals with a total of five yellow cards handed out during the match.
Meanwhile, the USA-Germany game was a showcase for women’s football with a world-class display of skill and strength.
The two football powerhouses will be teams to watch at the New Zealand-hosted FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup starting October 28.
Photos: Shane Wenzlick www.phototek.co.nz
Future Stars tournament – Final Day results and standings
Germany2(Tabea Kemme 16, Valeria Kleiner 76) USA3 (Tani Costa 47, Kristin Mewis 52/81). Halftime 1-0
New Zealand 0 Australia 1 (Mariana Tabain 44-pen). Halftime 0-1
Future Stars Final Standings
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
USA
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
2
|
12
|
9
|
|
Germany
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
4
|
7
|
6
|
|
Australia
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
11
|
-9
|
3
|
|
New Zealand
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
10
|
-10
|
0
|
New Zealand v Australia
North Harbour Stadium
Saturday, 2 February 6pm
New Zealand:1-Charlotte Wood (GK), 3-Rebecca Brown (8-Yumi Nguyen 84), 4-Leah Gallie (7-Caitlin Campbell 72), 5-Briony Fisher (Captain/ 2-Anna Fullerton 18) 6-Bridgette
Armstrong, 9-Hannah Wall 10-Annalie Longo, 12-Claudia Crasborn (17-Jessica Rollings 45), 13-Nadia Pearl, 18-Lauren Mathis, 19-Sarah McLaughlin (21-Lauren Murray 70)
Substitutes not used: 14-Jodi Curtis, 15-Gabrielle Kerdemelidis, 16-Elise Mamanu-Gray, 20-Danielle McFadyen (RGK).
Head coach: Paul Temple.
Cautions: Longo, Fullerton, Rollings, Campbell
Australia:1-Casey Dumont (GK), 3-Linda O’Neill, 4-Samantha Kerr (8-Tara Andrews 84), 5-Ella Mastrantonio (2-Sophie Hogben 28), 6-Marianna Tabain (7-Rachel Wynne 84), 11-Vedrana
Popovic, 12-Emily van Egmond, 13-Tameka Butt, 14-Nicola Bolger (9-Jenna Kingsley 70), 15-Teigan Allen (19-Nicole Calder 90), 16-Alesha Clifford.
Substitutes not used: 10-Kyah Simon, 17-Ruth Wallace.
Head coach: Gary Philips.
Cautions: Butt
Germany v USA
North
Harbour Stadium
Saturday, 2 February 3.30pm
Germany:1-Lisa Schmitz (GK), 2-Claudia Bujna, 3-Inka Wesely, 4-Valeria Kleiner, 5-Carolin Simon, 6-Marie-Louise Bagehorn (8-Kristine Zumbült 75), 7-Turid Knaak (17-Isabelle
Linden 46), 9-Svenja Huth, 10-Tabea Kemme, 11-Alexandra Popp, 15-Yasmin Pietsch (16-Lynn Mester 65).
Substitutes not used: 12-Anna Felicitas Sarholz (RGK), 13-Julia Debitzki, 14-Laura Vetterlein, 18-Annika Doppler
Coach: Ralf Peter.
USA:18-Taylor Vancil (GK), 2-Victoria DiMartino (20-Courtney Verloo 60), 3-Amber Brooks, 4-Crystal Dunn, 6-Cloee Colohan, 8-Kristen Mewis (Captan), 9-Tani Costa, 11-Jenna
Richmond (7-Olivia Klei 44), 13-Samantha Mewis, 16-Julia Roberts, 17-Zakiya Bywaters (14-Mary Wagner 84).
Substitutes not used: 1-Kelsey Wys (GK), 5-Alexis Harris, 10-Kealia Ohai, 12-Erika Tymrak,
Head coach: Kazbek Tambi.
Cautions: Verloo
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football. For full story visit www.nzfootball.com