FIFA U-20 WOMEN&039;S WORLD CUP CHILE 2008 – DO OR DIE AGAINST WORLD CUP HOSTS FOR JUNIOR FERNS

AUCKLAND – The Junior Football Ferns’ match against FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hosts, Chile, in Coquimbo on Sunday is shaping as make-or-break for both teams’ quarterfinals hopes.

On Thursday, New Zealand fought back from two goals down but conceded a stoppage time minute heartbreaker to lose 2-3 to Nigeria, while Group A leaders England spoilt the hosts’ opening party with two second half goals in a 2-0 win later in the night.

The results have left the New Zealand and Chile scrapping to stay in touch with the two winners, who clash in Sunday’s earlier match at Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso.

New Zealand coach John Herdman said his side were well aware of what was at stake against the South Americans.

“Every game is at a World Cup is a must win in some respects, but this one has a special meaning to us. You lose the game, you’re gone and if you draw you’re hanging by a thread,” Herdman said.

“We’ve got to win this game, and it’s a game we feel we can win.”

“If you’re talking about England you’d say if we play really well we’ll get through it, but against Chile the expectation within the camp is that this where we can get three points to set us up in that last game against England.”

“I think this one will be a good game for the public to watch. I think you’ll see both teams going at it, trying to play very good football, and I just think it’ll be very exciting because if either team loses they’re out of the competition.”

While a party to celebrate the 19th birthday of senior centre-back Abby Erceg on has helped lift spirits the day after Thursday’s epic loss, Herdman said the side had quickly re-grouped and switched attention to the next task.

“The girls have had a great attitude. They spent most of the day in the analysis room, apart from a little trip out to take their mind off things. Mostly they’ve been pretty professional. They’re recovering well, and getting their heads focussed into the next game.”

Chile beat New Zealand 2-1 in the first game of a quadrangular tournament in September, and the result still lingered in Herdman’s thoughts despite finishing that event with a 1-1 draw against Canada and a 3-0 win over Mexico.

“From our perspective we got beat when we came here in September albeit with one session of preparation, and what we saw against England last night is that they had a very good 45 minutes of counterattacking football. They created a number of chances but faded towards the end of the game.”

“It was one of those games when you wonder if it would have been different had Chile put one of those chances away, especially with the 16,000 strong crowd behind them.”

Another bumper crowd was expected for the hosts’ next match but with most of the Junior Ferns squad fresh from playing in front of large crowds at the Olympics or U-17 World Cups, the impact of the home nation’s ‘12th player’ was likely to be lessened.

“It’s a really interesting crowd,” Herdman said.

“They’re singing, chanting, whistling, booing, and cussing and it’s what you’d expect from the football crowds over here, but what I noticed with the England game is that they went really quiet when England started to get the upper hand in the second half, and it almost worked against Chile in the end.”

In other first round action on Thursday, USA cruised to a 3-0 win over France and head Group B from China and Argentina who played out a goalless stalemate in their opener.

Germany were the biggest winners on Friday, knocking five unanswered goals past Congo DR, to lead Group C ahead of Japan who beat Canada 2-0.

Brazil edged reigning U-20 and U-17 World Champions Korea DPR 3-2 in the marquee match of the round, while Norway’s 2-1 win over Mexico puts them joint leaders of Group D with the Brazilians.

New Zealand’s game against Chile kicks off at 1pm (NZT) with coverage live on Sky Sports 3.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008

Live on Sky Sports 3

New Zealand: (from) 1-Charlotte WOOD (GK), 2-Caitlin CAMPBELL, 3-Anna GREEN, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 6-Abby ERCEG, 7-Ria PERCIVAL, 8-Betsy HASSETT, 9-Renee LEOTA, 10-Annalie LONGO, 11-Hannah WALL, 12-Chelsey WOOD, 13-Victoria ESSON (GK), 14-Merissa SMITH, 15-Elizabeth MILNE, 16-Briony FISHER 17 Nicole STRATFORD, 18-Grace VINCENT, 19-Sarah McLAUGHLIN, 20-Rosie WHITE, 21-Rebekah BROOK (GK).

Coach: John HERDMAN

Chile: (from) 1-Romina PARRAGUIRRE (GK), 2-Valentina LEFORT, 3-Javiera GUAJARDO, 4-Cyntia AGUILAR, 5-Tatiana PEREZ, 6-Pamela COIHUIN, 7-Claudia ENDLER (GK), 8-Karen ARAYA, 9-Nathalie QUEZADA, 10-Maryorie HERNANDEZ, 11-Daniela ZAMORA, 12-Karla URETA (GK), 13-Dominique HISIS, 14-Daniela PARDO, 15-Juanita PENA, 16-Maria MARDONES, 17-Geraldine LEYTON, 18-Daniela FUENZALIDA, 19-Andrea ZUNIGA, 20-Carol NEGRON, 21-Valeska BAIGORRI.

Coach: Marta TEJEDOR

Story provided by NZF Media. For more visit www.nzsoccer.com