📷Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
New Zealand’s hopes of progressing to the round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup ™ in Colombia are hanging by a thread after a 3-1 defeat by Austria in Bogota.
But Leon Birnie’s side turned in a much-improved performance from their opening 7-0 defeat by Japan.
The Austrians who beat Ghana in their opening match join Japan who have beaten Ghana 4-1, in advancing to the round of 16 as direct qualifiers from Group E.
New Zealand was made to pay for a sloppy start.
The Austrians took the lead in the 10th minute from a free kick when Sarah Gutmann rose above the New Zealand defence and headed home. Five minutes later Gutman had her second as the Young Football Ferns failed to clear in the six-yard box.
Milly Clegg looked dangerous for New Zealand down the right and made a scything run into the box on the half hour mark but couldn’t deliver a telling pass.
New Zealand thought they had found a route back into the game on the stroke of half-time when Emma Pijnenburg was brought down by the Austrian keeper inside the box. But Mariella El Sherif made amends with a diving save to her left to deny Pijnenburg, and although Kiara Bercelli tapped in the rebound, she was found to have encroached inside the box when the kick was taken.
The young Ferns struggled to penetrate the Austrian defence in the second spell as Austria controlled the game. They effectively ended the game as a contest with their third goal in the 67th minute through Valentina Maedel with a powerful left footed effort.
Milly Clegg gave New Zealand fans something to celebrate in the final minute of normal time when she rose to head home a consolation goal from a corner, but it was too little too late, and the Young Ferns now need a big win over Ghana in their final Group game (Monday NZT) to have any chance of qualifying for the round of 16 as one of the best third placed teams.
AUSTRIA 3 (Sarah GUTMANN 10’ 15’ Valentina MAEDEL 67′)
NEW ZEALAND 1 (Milly CLEGG 90′)
HT 2-0