NUKU' ALOFA - TONGAN international goalkeeper, Mele Likiliki of Fasi mo e Afi, is a nominee for the Oceania Football Confederation's Women's Player of the Year 2008 Award.

She is among 15 top women football players from Oceania who have been short-listed for the OFC's top award to be announced in April.

Mele (25) is the first Tongan woman to be nominated for the award.

The OFC, in a Media release, stated Mele was chosen for her charisma, brave style and no nonsense approach, which were vital attributes contributing to Tonga's Silver Medal win during the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa.

The nominations were spread across 18 months to make up for long periods in the competition calendar where there was no international women's football activity.

Mele, who has been playing the sport since the age of 17, said today she was very happy to be nominated for the top award - a great recognition of her skills and talent.

Mele aims to continue her career in the sport and represent Tonga in future international tournaments.

The other 14 nominees who have been short-listed are from Fiji, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and New Zealand.

For the Men's Player of the Year Award, there are ten nominees from players who are predominantly playing in Asia and Europe.

The winner will determined by a jury consisting of members of the OFC Executive Committee, member association's presidents, general secretaries, national team coaches and technical directors of all OFC members associations.

The General Secretary of the Oceania Football Federation, Tai Nicholas, said that nominees will be judged based on their performances from mid-July 2007 to the last day of 2008.

"I am delighted there is a women's category, particularly after the quality of football witnessed at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup hosted by New Zealand," she said.

Story and photograph courtesy www.matangitonga.to

Action image by Vanessa Smith 2007

It was a case of Déjà vu as the USA beat Brazil to the gold medal in extra time for the second straight Olympic final on Thursday in Beijing.

A Carli Lloyd goal in the 96th minute was the only difference between the sides as they collect their third top Olympic prize in four instalments. Brazil, as they did four years ago in Athens, and last year at the FIFA Women's World Cup, have to tearfully settle for silver.

The contest began cautiously with both sides unwilling to commit too much to attack. The best challenge for the holders came in the 16th minute when Angela Hucles' corner kick nearly soared directly into the Brazilian net. The bending left-footed attempt could only splatter against the top of Barbara's crossbar.

As the half wore on, the Brazilians began to uncoil their springs slightly and push Marta and Cristiane into the US's defensive third. On 31 minutes, Lori Chalupny gave the ball away in midfield and Formiga took advantage, stringing a fine through ball to the onrushing Cristiane. But the striker, top scorer at these women's finals, was unable to settle the ball with her first touch and Hope Solo came out to grab hold.

Marta and Cristiane finished the opening period terrorising a supremely organised US defence, but the whistle went before the dynamic duo could do any statistical damage.

Brazil were searching for the crucial goal at the start of the second half, but the American rearguard were standing up to everything thrown at them. On 72 minutes, the dazzling Marta seemed to have found a way through, but after jinking and slinking her way into the penalty area, Solo made an outstanding reflex save at the near post to keep the scores level. It proved to be the turning-point.

Both sides were visibly tiring in the last ten minutes of regular time. In the 85th minute, the US, on the back foot for so long, nearly grabbed a winner, but Barbara was equal to Hucles' low drive from 18 yards. Then, with just seconds to go, substitute Amy Rodriguez was denied by the Brazilian keeper when it looked an odds-on a goal.

The North Americans' superior strength and fitness began to really show in the extra-time period. And only six minutes into the first half of it, they laid claim to that elusive, and precious, goal. Rodriguez knocked the ball off for Carli Lloyd at the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder skipped past two defenders before rifling a low left-footed shot past Barbara.

The USA's gold medal is their third in four Olympic finals and their second on the trot. For Brazil, who lit up the tournament with their flair and creativity, it's another case of so near, yet so far.

Story courtesy of FIFA Media. For more information visit www.fifa.com

Four years have passed since the Women's Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004 and, on the surface at least, little appears to have changed. On Monday 18 August Brazil and the United States ensured a repeat of the pair's final meeting on Greek soil by comfortably dispatching semi-final opponents Germany and Japan respectively.

We take a closer look at the day's two emphatic wins here at Beijing 2008, victories that have guaranteed the gold medal goes to either North or South America and left Germany and Japan to battle it out for bronze.

The games
Brazil 4-1 Germany, Shanghai

Having lost to Germany in the final of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup, also in Shanghai, Brazil were desperate to avenge that painful 2-0 reverse. And coach Jorge Barcellos' charges did just that, making light of the oppressive heat and humidity to put in an irresistible display of adventurous attacking football. The Germans were thus dealt their first defeat at women's senior level by the Canarinhas, who in the process booked their place in a second consecutive Olympic final.

German keeper Nadine Angerer, who had yet to concede here at Beijing 2008, found herself picking the ball out of the net a staggering four times in 33 minutes, including a goal from Auriverde genius Marta - sweet revenge for her missed penalty from China 2007. Cristiane, another veteran of the Athens 2004 campaign, added two more strikes to her personal tally and sits atop the scorers' charts with five. The deadly duo will also be desperate to get one over final opponents the USA, who denied Brazil Olympic gold four years ago.

Japan 2-4 United States, Beijing
In the end the power and experience of the North American women proved decisive against their pacy and adventurous Japanese counterparts, who failed to build on the early lead provided by Ohno. Indeed, the reigning champions managed to turn the scoreline on its head in the space of three minutes just prior to the interval. And despite the Nadeshiko's continued efforts to get back into the game after the break, Pia Sundhage's Stars and Stripes underlined their dominance by firing two more strikes past Miho Fukumoto.

Angela Hucles, who grabbed a brace for the Americans, was the star of the show on a night that saw history repeat itself. The defending champions defeated Japan once at Athens 2004 and twice here in Beijing, will they do the same against Brazil?

The player
Cristiane (BRA)
Two goals, an assist and an audacious nutmeg in the build-up to her team's first goal all combined to make the 23-year-old sharpshooter the day's outstanding performer. Cristiane, who had failed to score against the Germans in the final of China 2007 and in the two sides' opening game here at Beijing 2008, more than made up for it with a devastating all-round display. The German defence will no doubt rue the day she crossed their path, while the acrobatic way she celebrated her first goal could see her enter the gymnastics events come London 2012...

The stat
10 - Germany striker Birgit Prinz can take a small measure of consolation from scoring her tenth goal at an Olympic Football Tournament. The steely front-runner has now scored at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

What they said
"It doesn't matter if we conceded four goals or two. The only thing that matters is that they scored more than us and that was enough for them," Germany captain and goalscorer Birgit Prinz.

All the results
Brazil 4-1 Germany
Japan 2-4 United States

Story provided by FIFA media. For more information visit www.fifa.com

AUCKLAND – The semi-finals of the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments will each feature two of the Oly-Whites’ and Football Ferns’ respective group-stage opponents after Japan’s women and Belgium’s men won through to the final four.

Japan - who trailed the Football Ferns 0-2 in their opening game before fighting back for a draw - spoiled China’s party with a 2-0 win that sent the Olympic hosts crashing out and set up a rematch against USA who beat Canada 2-1 in an extra-time quarterfinal.

Earlier in the tournament, USA beat Japan 1-0 and New Zealand 4-0 on their way to topping Group G.

The winner of that semi will face the winner of Brazil and Germany who beat Norway and Sweden in their respective quarterfinals.

Belgium – who beat 10-man New Zealand 1-0 to progress to the last eight – were the surprise package of the men’s draw upsetting a highly fancied Italy side 3-2 progress to the final four.

They will meet Atlanta gold-medal winners Nigeria who prevailed 2-0 in an all-Africa quarter-final derby against Cote d’Ivoire.

Brazil – who topped New Zealand’s group with a perfect three wins form three starts – needed two extra time goals to get past Cameroon after 90 scoreless minutes, and now face a marquee tie against South American rivals Argentina who also needed extra time before beating the Netherlands 2-1.

Women's Semi-finals
18/08 10pm (NZT) Shanghai - Brazil v Germany 
19/08 1:00am (NZT) Beijing - Japan v USA 

Men's Semi-finals
19/08 10pm (NZT) Shanghai - Nigeria v Belgium 
20/08 1am (NZT) Beijing - Argentina v Brazil 

AUCKLAND - The rapid improvement of the Football Ferns was checked by the USA on Tuesday night, in a 0-4 loss to the reigning Olympic champions in Shenyang.

The top-ranked Americans scored twice in each half – including the fastest ever Olympic goal – to  claim top spot in Group G ahead of Norway – who suffered a shock 1-5 loss to Japan – and avoid a quarter-final meeting with Brazil.

Japan also progress from New Zealand’s pool as one of the top third-placed teams, while the Ferns finish tenth overall on their Olympic debut.

It’s a reminder for the Ferns that while competitive, and at times dominant, performances against top-ten sides Japan (2-2) and Norway (0-1) signal a bright future there’s no substitute in the short-term for experience given the USA fielded nine players with twice the number of caps of the Ferns’ most experienced player.

Football Ferns captain Hayley Moorwood earned her 38th cap but her opposite was playing her 200th game, while there was another centurion in the line-up and two more on the American bench.

Coach John Herdman was disappointed with an early exit from the tournament but pleased with the positive signs from a side with an average age of just 22.

“We’ve taken some big steps in the last month, in this tournament and throughout our warm-ups, and now have the chance to build on this momentum,” Herdman said.

“We’ve come a long way but it takes experience to get comfortable with winning.

“Our performances may help us break into other international tournaments and start amassing the amount of international experience you need to be physically and mentally prepared for games like this.”

“We know that New Zealand Football are 100 percent behind the women’s game and we hope to get the backing of Sparc and the NZOC again in the future.

Herdman said the tournament had helped change the mindset of his team.

“The belief of the players has shifted and that’s half the battle.”

“We won’t accept credibility now, we’re about accepting winning.

“That may take three years, but if we keep investing in the team then we can reach our goal of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the Olympics in 2012.

With earlier results in the day going their way, New Zealand began the game knowing any win would be good enough to progress to the quarterfinals but their hopes were rocked by a horror start with many fans still settling into their seats.

New Zealand were wearing their alternate uniform of black shirts but goalkeeper Jenny Bindon failed to find one with her goal kick and Heather O’Reilly returned it with interest from 30 yards, stopping the stopwatch at just 41 seconds for the fastest goal in Olympic history.

The Football Ferns survived a barrage of long range efforts in the first 25 minutes and just as they were beginning to earn parity in midfield and enjoy a greater share of possession, Amy Rodriguez struck a killer blow for the Americans two minutes before halftime, taking a long clearance in stride and doubling the lead with a clinical first-time finish.

Amber Hearn had a golden chance to reduce the deficit eight minutes into the second half but miscued her shot after Kirsty Yallop set her free inside the area.

Lindsay Tarpley – who hit the post from a tight angle after 15 minutes – made no mistake 12 minutes into the second half with Jenny Bindon out of position after saving shots by Rodriguez and O’Reilly.

Three minutes later Lori Chalupny cut in from the left hand flank and hit the crossbar with a right-footed shot but Angela Hucles was on hand to complete the scoring despite Bindon getting a glove to her follow-up.

Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: Group G

Shenyang Olympic Stadium
Tuesday 12 August

New Zealand 0 USA 4 (Heather O’Reilly 1, Amy Rodriguez 43, Lindsay Tarpley 57, Angela Hucles 60).
Halftime 0-2

New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 17-Marlies OOSTDAM (3-Anna GREEN 64), 7-Alexandra RILEY, 4-Katie HOYLE (14-Kristy HILL 64, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 9-Amber HEARN (13-Rebecca TEGG), 15-Emma KETE.
Substitutes not used: 10-Emily McCOLL, 12-Merissa SMITH, 16-Renee LEOTA, 18-Rachel HOWARD (GK).
Coach: John HERDMAN

Cautions: Marlies OOSTDAM, Amber HEARN,

USA: 1-Hope SOLO (GK), 2-Heather MITTS (14-Stephanie COX 62), 3-Christie RAMPONE (Captain), 4-Rachel BUEHLER, 5-Lindsay TARPLEY, 7-Shannon BOXX, 8-Amy RODRIGUEZ (6-Natasha KAI 57), 9-Heather O REILLY (10-Aly WAGNER 74), 11-Carli LLOYD, 16-Angela HUCLES, 17-Lori CHALUPNY.
Substitutes not used: 12-Lauren CHENEY, 13-Tobin HEATH, 15-Kate MARKGRAF, 18-Nicole BARNHART (GK).
Coach: Pia SUNDHAGE

Standings: Group G

photos courtesy of FIFA Media. For more visit www.fifa.com

AUCKLAND - A 0-1 loss to fast-starting Norway in Qinhuangdao on Saturday night has left the Football Ferns needing to topple the world’s best team to progress to the quarter-finals of their first Olympic Games but with enough belief to do it.

An eighth minute goal from Melissa Wiik proved the difference for the now-qualified Norwegians with New Zealand and USA battling to join them in the next round.

Adding to her 4th minute strike against the USA on Wednesday, Wiik’s near post run was near perfect and her header to meet Leni Laursen Kaurin’s cross left Jenny Bindon no chance in the New Zealand goal.

In matching the world number five stride-for-stride, and earning the lion share of possession, the Football Ferns proved an opening draw against Japan was no fluke and that their goal of progressing out of their group was still well within reach.

“Who’d of thought a year ago that we would dominate possession against a top five team,” New Zealand coach John Herdman said.

“We were caught by the best opportunity of the night. It was a quality cross and a quality finish.

“They beat the world champion Germany side 2-0 coming into the tournament and beat the USA by two goals as well so it puts a bit of perspective on it.

“It’s a loss but the performance would have inspired a lot of people watching back home.”

With Athens gold medallists and world number one USA winning 1-0 over Japan in the group’s earlier fixture to move into second place, New Zealand now face a Shenyang showdown against the Americans on Tuesday for a place in the knockout stages.

“It’s do or die. It’s not about credibility anymore. We’re past that. We’re going to throw everything at them to get a result.”

Despite the early setback, the Football Ferns responded strongly and were almost on level terms after 14 minutes when Kirsty Yallop went agonisingly with a diving header at the back post sailed over the bar.

Both defences stood firm – with Jenny Bindon only called on to make one sharp first half save from Kaurin in a relatively quiet night – as each team restricted the other to just two shots on goal throughout ninety minutes.

The game was increasingly became a battle of the two midfields, which the New Zealand quartet won on points led by the tireless Katie Hoyle.

New Zealand spent most of the second spell in the Norwegian half and earned a succession of corners and attacking free kicks but a defensive master class from the Scandinavians restricted New Zealand to just one real shot – a long range bullet from defender Rebecca Smith that travelled just wide.

New Zealand's best foray’s came through Ali Riley but Norwegian fullback Gunhild Folsted never allowed the Stanford University winger onto her favoured right foot to deliver a killer ball.

New Zealand kept pressing but the Norwegian defence met every cross and every through ball in a tense final ten minutes, hanging on to seal their place in the knock-out stages.

The Football Ferns travel to Shenyang tomorrow in time to catch the Oly-Whites' match against medal favourites Brazil before focussing on their own heavyweight clash.

Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: Group G

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium
Saturday 9 August
New Zealand 0 Norway 1 (Melissa Wiik 8)

New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 17-Marlies OOSTDAM (3-Anna GREEN 64), 7-Alexandra RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 4-Katie HOYLE, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 9-Amber HEARN (13-Rebecca TEGG 82), 15-Emma KETE (16-Renee LEOTA 88).
Substitutes not used: 10-Emily McCOLL, 12-Merissa SMITH, 14-Kristy HILL, 18-Rachel HOWARD (GK).
Coach: John HERDMAN

Norway: 1-Erika SKARBO (GK), 2-Ane STANGELAND HORPESTAD, 3-Gunhild FOLSTAD, 4-Ingvild STENSLAND, 5-Siri NORDBY, 6-Marie KNUTSEN, 8-Solveig GULBRANDSEN (9-Isabell HERLOVSEN 66), 10-Melissa WIIK, 11-Leni LARSEN KAURIN (14-Guro KNUTSEN 59), 12-Marit FIANE CHRISTENSEN, 13-Lene STORLOKKEN (6-Elise THORSNES 59).
Substitutes not used: 7-Trine RONNING, 15-Marita SKAMMELSRUD LUND, 17-Lene MYKJALAND, 18-Christine NILSEN (GK).
Coach: Bjarne BERNSTEN

Story Courtesy of NZF Media. For full story visit www.nzsoccer.com

AUCKLAND – The Football Ferns were just four minutes away from an upset victory over world number ten Japan in Qinhuangdao on Wednesday night but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in their Group G Olympic opener.

New Zealand lead 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining thanks to a first-half tap-in from Kirsty Yallop against the run of play and a second half Amber Hearn penalty but conceded twice in 18 minutes in a Japanese late show that leaves the Ferns needing a win against heavyweights Norway or USA to claim a place in the knock-out stages.

Having been minutes away from an upset victory over the more-fancied Japanese, New Zealand coach John Herdman had mixed emotions about claiming a point.

It’s bittersweet. Sweet in that we’ve got a draw in our first game and are still in the competition, but it’s disappointing that it wasn’t our best performance as a New Zealand team,” Herdman said. 

“We’re better than that, we’ve played better than that, and the players know it. Three points were there for the taking tonight.

“But we’ve come away with a crucial point to start the campaign and in the scheme of things secured a pretty significant result for a New Zealand team.”

Yallop took advantage of hesitancy from fullback Yukari Kinga to tap home at the back post after Ali Riley slipped past Miyuki Yanagita and played a ball across the face of goal in the 37th minute.

Two contentious penalties followed in the second half with Hearn converting from the spot after South African referee Deidre Mitchell saw a push on Emma Kete at a New Zealand corner just before the hour mark.

The match official then evened up the ledger with 18 minutes remaining by penalising Abby Erceg for a similar offence at the other end.

Influential Japanese captain Aya Miyama made no mistake from 12 yards to setting up a tense finish that was finally capped by Homare Sawa’s near-post touch to an 86th minute free-kick just as the Japanese were beginning to face the possibility of their campaign ending before the Olympics had officially begun.

New Zealand started the game brightly, with the pace of Emma Kete causing problems for the Japanese back four and Katie Hoyle stifling any Japanese forays through midfield.

It took 15 minutes for the Japanese to fashion their first chance – a wayward effort from distance that sailed well wide – but it signalled a gear change as Japan began to take control of the match.

Barely a minute later, neat interplay within the New Zealand penalty area between Shinobu Ohno and Yuki Nagasato sent Ohno free on goal but her angled shot towards the far post was kept out by Jenny Bindon at full stretch.

Ohno would’ve been cursing the left hand of Bindon at halftime match as a second world class save denied the Japanese striker one-on-one after 33 minutes.

In between, New Zealand weathered a storm from Japan and survived two scares – a penalty claim awarded as a free-kick just outside the area and a dangerous pass into the six-yard box by Kozue Ando cut out by Rebecca Smith – before finding their feet again and heading into halftime a goal up.

Ali Riley – who passed a late fitness test to take her place in the starting eleven – had a shot blocked by Miho Fukumoto just after the restart before Hearn sent the New Zealand bench into rapture with what looked like a match sealing penalty before Miyama’s and Sawa’s late heroics.

The ‘must-win’ tag now passes to even tougher matches against group favourites Norway and USA on August 9 and 12 respectively as New Zealand hunts for three points to progress as one of the top eight teams in the 12-team tournament.

Norway stunned worldnumber one USA with the two fastest Olympic ggoals in history to claim a 2-0 win and the outright lead of the Qinhuangdao-based Group G immediately after New Zealand’s match against Japan.

Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: Group G
Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium
Wednesday 6 August

New Zealand 2 (Kirsty Yallop 37, Amber Hearn 56-pen) Japan 2 (Aya Miyama 72-pen, Homare Sawa 86)

New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 17-Marlies OOSTDAM, 7-Alexandra RILEY, 4-Katie HOYLE (10-Emily McCOLL 79), 8-Hayley MOORWOOD (Captain), 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 9-Amber HEARN (13-Rebecca TEGG 86), 15-Emma KETE (16-Renee LEOTA 70).
Substitutes not used: 3-Anna GREEN, 12-Merissa SMITH, 14-Kristy HILL, 18-Rachel HOWARD (RGK).

Cautions: Moorwood (30)

Japan: 1-Miho FUKUMOTO (GK), 2-Yukari KINGA, 4-Azusa IWASHIMIZU, 14-Kyoko YANO, 5-Miyuki YANAGITA, 7-Kozue ANDO (12-Karina MARUYAMA 82), 15-Mizuho SAKAGUCHI, 10-Homare SAWA (Captain), 8-Aya MIYAMA, 11-Shinobu OHNO (9-Eriko ARAKAWA 79), 17-Yuki NAGASATO.
Substitutes not used: 3-Hiromi IKEDA, 6-Tomoe KATO, 13-Ayumi HARA, 16-Rumi UTSUGI, 18-Ayumi KAIHORI (RGK).

Cautions: Sakaguchi (54), Iwashimizu (55)

Standings

Story Provided by NZF Media. For full story visit www.nzsoccer.com

Photos courtesy of FIFA Media. For more visit www.fifa.com

The following schedule has been collated from information provided by TVNZ. All three Football Ferns group matches are live on TVNZ Sports Extra (Freeview Channel 20 and streamed on tvnz.co.nz), while the Oly-Whites opening match against the Olympic hosts is also live on TVNZ Sports Extra. At this stage no live coverage has been confirmed for the Oly-Whites matches against Brazil and Belgium.
 
Following live coverage of the Football Ferns v Japan at 9pm on August 6, and the Thai Airways Oly-Whites v China at 11.45pm on August 7, TV Sports Extra will show delayed coverage of other pool matches from the women’s and men’s competition until noon on August 9. The channel will also carry coverage of other group and knock-out matches including the men’s and women’s gold medal matches live.

View TVNZ Sport Extra’s full schedule.

Please note: All times are subject to change. All queries should be directed to TVNZ.

AUCKLAND - The Football Ferns may be starting the Olympic Games two days before the opening ceremony but their captain is confident they’re ready to upset Japan in Qinhaungdao on Wednesday night.

When Hayley Moorwood (24) leads her side – the first New Zealand Olympians in action – onto the field it will be far cry from New Zealand’s last game against Japan in Tokyo three years ago.

Then, as a green 21-year-old with just 8 caps to her name, Moorwood created history as the Football Ferns' youngest-ever captain, but New Zealand endured a forgettable night at the hands of their hosts, losing 0-6.

It was the Football Ferns’ only international in the middle of a two-year barren period stretching from October 2004 to November 2006 but Moorwood believes a step-change in activity that has seen the Ferns play 29 matches in the last 18 months is about to pay dividends.

“We’ve been getting through a lot of off-field and on-field preparation so we’re definitely ready for the Olympics,” Moorwood said.

“As a player and a captain, I’m definitely a lot more confident now and have a few more caps under my belt - I think I was in single figures then. And having a great team around me definitely helps.”

Now into her second spell wearing the armband and with the most international experience (35 caps) of the current squad, Moorwood is well placed to judge the team’s recent progress.

“The team have come a long way since then [2005], and especially in the last year and a half. We’re much more attacking now and certainly like to flood players forward.

“At the World Cup [the 2007 Women’s World Cup], the team was very defensive and we were a new team – we’d only been together for about six months. Now’s it’s almost two years, and I think we’re ready to spring a few surprises.”

New Zealand have not beaten a top-ten side since FIFA started publishing their world rankings for women’s team in 2003, so will head into the Group G opener against the tenth ranked Japanese as firm underdogs despite a promising pre-Olympic build-up that culminated with a draw against world number nine Canada in Singapore.

“It was a good result to head into the Olympics with, and we were pretty disappointed not to win if I’m honest. But it was a great boost heading into the Games and gives us momentum to get a result in our first game on Wednesday.”

New Zealand coach John Herdman has only one injury concern heading into the match with fleet-footed winger Ali Riley “touch-and-go” after suffering a recurrence of a hip injury in training during the week.

The match kicks off at 9pm New Zealand time with group favourites Norway and USA squaring off at 11.45pm.

Women’s Olympic Football Tournament: Group G
Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium
Wednesday 6 August 5pm local (9pm NZ time)
Live on Freeview and tvnz.co.nz.

New Zealand v Japan

New Zealand: (from) 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 3-Anna GREEN, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 7-Alexandra RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Emily McCOLL, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 12-Merissa SMITH, 13-Rebecca TEGG, 14-Kristy HILL, 15-Emma KETE, 16-Renee LEOTA, 17-Marlies OOSTDAM, 18-Rachel HOWARD (GK).

Japan: (from) 1-Miho FUKUMOTO (GK), 2-Yukari KINGA, 3-Hiromi IKEDA, 4-Azusa IWASHIMIZU, 5-Miyuki YANAGITA, 6-Tomoe KATO, 7-Kozue ANDO, 8-Aya MIYAMA, 9-Eriko ARAKAWA, 10-Homare SAWA, 11-Shinobu OHNO, 12-Karina MARUYAMA, 13-Ayumi HARA, 14-Kyoko YANO, 15-Mizuho SAKAGUCHI, 16-Rumi UTSUGI, 17-Yuki NAGASATO, 18-Ayumi KAIHORI (GK).

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

AUCKLAND – Emma Kete’s first half goal earned the Football Ferns a promising 1-1 draw against world number nine Canada in the side’s final pre-Olympics warm-up match in Singapore overnight.

Thirteen months since losing a two-match series 0-8 on aggregate to the Canadians in Auckland, Kete cancelled out Christine Sinclair’s 28th minute opener with a coolly taken goal nine minutes before halftime to snap a run a four consecutive losses against the North Americans.

Set free on goal by Amber Hearn’s through ball, Kete outpaced the cover defence and placed the ball to the left of the advancing keeper. 

New Zealand were unlucky not to already be on level terms through Katie Hoyle on the half hour mark, but the midfielder’s shot rebounded back off the inside of the post and across the face of goal.

Second half chances went begging including two in a ten minute spell of pressure immediately after half time, but the Ferns had to settle with claiming New Zealand’s first result against one of the current top ten sides since a 1993 goalless draw with the Canadians in New York.

In a sign of the team’s growing ambition heading into their first Olympic Games, coach John Herdman said his side were disappointed with another case of what-might-have-been following close losses to Australia and China (twice) in recent weeks.

“Sure, we’ve taken some positive steps but this team is talking about winning games now. Realistically, we’re going into the Olympics not talking about trying to scratch a point here or there but actually knocking over sides.”

“There’s real disappointment among the players. We’ve played four games against big teams and we could’ve had three wins. This side isn’t happy picking up a draw.

“A year ago if we’d picked up a point against a team like Canada we’d be jumping for joy. The girls will know deep down that they’ve done well tonight but it’s good to see them disappointed.”

Herdman did acknowledge that the result may cause Japan, Norway, and USA – all top 10 sides – to rethink their approach to respective Group G clashes against New Zealand.

“We wanted to send a message out before the Olympics. Teams will have seen us as easy beats in the group, but we’ve shown that’s not the case. Those teams will have to look at us differently.”

New Zealand leave Singapore for Qinhuangdao on Sunday to prepare for their Olympic opener against Japan on August 6, two days before the Olympic opening ceremony.

Football Ferns 1 (Emma Kete 36) Canada 1 (Christine Sinclair 28)
Queenstown Stadium, Singapore
Saturday 26 July

Football Ferns: Jenny Bindon (GK), Ria Percival, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Smith, Marlies Oostdam, Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Captain / Emily McColl 87), Kirsty Yallop (Renee Leota 80), Amber Hearn (Rebecca Tegg 72), Emma Kete.
Substitutes not used: Rachel Howard (GK), Anna Green, Kristy Hill, Merissa Smith.

Story Courtesy of NZF Media. For full story visit www.nzsoccer.com

AUCKLAND - The Football Ferns have struck goal scoring form in their penultimate pre-Olympic hit-out, winning 14-0 against Singapore in the city-state on Wednesday night.

Strikers Amber Hearn, Emma Kete and Renee Leota all scored their first international hat tricks with Hearn and Kete finding the back of the net four times.

Midfielders Kirsty Yallop (twice) and Merissa Smith also netted as New Zealand ran riot in each of the training match’s three periods, scoring four goals in the first half hour and five each in the next two 30 minute spells.

The lop-sided win is the Football Ferns’ largest in five years and eclipses a 9-0 victory over Thailand in 1991 as their biggest win against non-Oceania opposition.

The Football Ferns opened the scoring through a back post Yallop header in the second minute and never looked back with long range efforts from Hearn and Kete the pick of the night’s plentiful offerings.

New Zealand coach John Herdman praised the nature of the Ferns performance but quickly turned his attention to the New Zealand’s next game against Canada – the side’s final warm-up match before meeting Japan in their Olympic opener on August 6.

“Tonight was important. We always go into fixtures as the underdogs but we knew tonight we were the better team, and we played with confidence professionalism and ruthlessness,” Herdman said.

“The key now is they take this into the Canada game on Friday.”

“It’s our last opportunity to scalp a top 10 team and send out a message before the Olympics.

“We’ve had the attitude in the games against Australia and China, but tonight they had the killer instinct and players were prepared to put their bodies on the line to score goals. There was just that extra bit of quality tonight.

“It was a step we needed to take. We’ve worked hard on our finishing in the last few days and internally the team asked some questions of our attacking players. Tonight they all stood up.”

New Zealand play Canada at Jurong West Stadium in Singapore on Friday at 11.30 (NZ time).

The Football Ferns are in Group G of the 12 team Women’s Olympic Football Tournament along with Japan, Norway and USA.

Football Ferns 14 (Amber Hearn (4), Emma Kete (4), Renee Leota (3), Kirsty Yallop (2), Merissa Smith) Singapore 0

Queenstown Stadium, Singapore
Wednesday 23 July

Football Ferns line-ups:
First third: Rachel Howard, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Abby Erceg, Marlies Oostdam, Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn, Emma Kete.

Second third: Rachel Howard, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Kristy Hill, Marlies Oostdam, Merissa Smith, Kirsty Yallop, Emily McColl, Anna Green, Amber Hearn, Renee Leota.

Final third: Jenny Bindon, Katie Hoyle, Abby Erceg, Kristy Hill, Anna Green, Merissa Smith, Emily McColl, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Renee Leota, Emma Kete, Rebecca Tegg.

Head coach: John Herdman

Story courtesy of NZF Media. For full article visit www.nzsoccer.com

AUCKLAND – For the second time in five days, the Football Ferns have lost a match they dominated against Olympic hosts China, going down 0-1 in Qinhuangdao in the early hours of Monday morning (NZ time).

In a frenetic first five minutes, China repelled two early efforts from a New Zealand attacking corner before Han Duan opened the scoring at the other end, drifting unchecked at the near post and clipping the ball low past goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.

New Zealand coach John Herdman was left with a sense of déjà vu after close losses to Australia (0-1) and China (1-3) in the past week.

“The players are gutted. The last three games they’ve taken nothing from them when they should’ve taken something,” Herdman said.

“After the goal we battered them. We’ve out crossed them, out shot them, out pressed them but just couldn’t turn it into goals.”

Kirsty Yallop went close to equalising for the Ferns within minutes of Han’s goal, but her back post header was turned round the post by China’s ‘keeper in the 10th minute.

New Zealand created a host of half-chances – and a few full-blooded ones – in the second half, with the pace and delivery from Ali Riley a constant danger on the right of midfield but, in an increasingly familiar script, the Football Ferns could not turn dominance in possession and territory into victory.

Herdman could see the positives in another competitive showing at Qinhuangdao stadium just two and a half weeks out from their Olympic opener against Japan at the same venue.

“It’s another consistent performance in front of twenty odd thousand people and the beauty is that on August 6 these players are going to be ready for Japan, a team who China beat 3-1 a few weeks ago.

“It’s not the Olympics yet, and the signs are very good. China will be relieved to come away with what they got today.”

“We’re a different team now. The players know they can live on the world stage but our work in the attacking third is not world class and until it is we won’t win these close games,” Herdman said.

“That’ll be our main focus against Singapore, who should give us opportunity to work in those areas.’

New Zealand play Singapore on Wednesday and Canada on Friday – both in Singapore – before returning to China to prepare for Olympic group G matches against Japan, Norway and USA.

Football Ferns 0 China 1 (Han Duan 5)
Qinhuangdao, China

Football Ferns: Jenny Bindon (GK), Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith (Kristy Hill 71), Abby Erceg, Marlies Oostdam (Anna Green 46), Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn (Rebecca Tegg 73), Renee Leota (Emma Kete 46).
Substitutes not used: Rachel Howard (RGK), Emily McColl, Merissa Smith.
Head coach: John Herdman

AUCKLAND – A 1-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Australia in Sydney on Saturday has left Football Ferns head coach John Herdman demanding a ruthless streak from his players heading into the Beijing Olympics.

Leena Khamis scored the only goal of the game after 25 minutes, drifting un-tracked into the box from a quickly-taken wide free kick, before flicking the ball over a late-arriving Jenny Bindon in the New Zealand goal.

New Zealand pushed hard for an equaliser creating numerous chances to get back in the game and had a strong penalty shout for handball turned down in the second half.

Winger Ali Riley was the standout among a number of players getting behind the Australian defence to deliver crosses, but despite extended periods of pressure, New Zealand coach John Herdman said his team needed to find something extra to get results against the big nations.

“I’m sick of making excuses, we have to be more ruthless in the attacking third,” said Herdman.

“I’m patting the players on the back saying well done at the end of the game, but it’s not enough to get results.”

“It’s the most dominant I’ve seen a New Zealand team over Australia in my time, even Aussie coach Tom Sermanni said to me we should’ve got something out of that game.

“There were some pretty impressive individual performances out there but anything outside that - it’s about results heading into the Olympics.”

The Football Ferns fly out to China on Sunday for two internationals against the Olympic hosts in Qinhuangdao before finishing their pre-Olympic build-up with matches against Singapore and Canada in Singapore.

New Zealandthen return to Qinhuangdao to begin their Olympic campaign against Japan (August 6) and Norway (August 9) before finishing group play against the USA in Shenyang on August 12.

Football Ferns 0 Australia 1 (Leena Khamis 25)

North Sydney Oval, Australia

Football Ferns:Jenny Bindon, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Abby Erceg, Anna Green (Marlies Oostdam 75), Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (captain), Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn, Renee Leota (Emma Kete 70).
Substitues not used: Rachel Howard, Kristy Hill, Emily McColl, Emma Kete, Merissa Smith, Rebecca Tegg.
Head coach: John Herdman

Story provided by NZF Media. For full story visit www.nzsoccer.com

AUCKLAND – The final leg of the Football Ferns’ and Thai Airways Oly-Whites’ Road to Beijing will wind its way through Australia and South-East Asia with month-long tours in July.

Building on a double-header against their Australian counterparts in Sydney on July 12, each side completes preparation for New Zealand’s first ever Olympic football appearances with games against Asian opposition before arriving in the Olympic village in late July ahead of their opening Olympic fixtures on August 6 (women) and 7 (men).

The Oly-Whites follow their Olyroos test with an even tougher examination two days later against A-League runners-up Central Coast Mariners.

They then travel to Jakarta where a clash against the Indonesian full national side is sandwiched between two matches against club opposition.

New Zealand Football is also in discussion with the Chilean Football Federation for two matches against the Chile U-23 side in Wellington in early July.

Meanwhile the Football Ferns tread a different path after their game against the Matildas, heading for an early taste of Chinese conditions with back-to-back games against the Olympic hosts, before moving to Singapore for games against Singapore and Canada.

After slowly piecing together the preparation puzzle, Oly-Whites head coach Stu Jacobs was pleased to focus on a schedule that provided plenty of opportunity to adjust to tough opposition and tough conditions.

“When you’re preparing for a tournament of this stature, teams are slow to commit themselves, and it can be tough to confirm fixtures. However, we’ve got a program modelled on teams we’ll face and gives us time in China to recover and get in time on the training pitch,” Jacobs said.

“The Australian teams will be very strong so it’s a great start for us and it keeps the relationship between the two countries going, which is important.”

“The Indonesians will be a good warm-up for our opener against China. They’ll be quite good technically and very quick. Conditions will be similar to China so it’ll give us a chance to acclimatise as well.”

Football Ferns head coach John Herdman echoed Jacobs’s sentiments about the value of acclimatisation, and about the benefits of off-shore preparation.

“It’s a great build-up and at a higher level than we had before the last World Cup. Every game will have a very clear purpose, with games against opposition of a similar ilk to our Olympic opponents,” Herdman said.

“The Aussie, China and Canada games give us further benchmarks while the match against Singapore offers the chance to practice different scenarios and ensure all our players see game time.”

At least one of the Football Ferns matches against China in Qinhuangdao will be at the same stadium as their Olympic opener against Japan, with Herdman identifying obvious benefits.

“China are a very similar team to Japan so it’s crucial we get into Asian conditions and get used to playing Asian teams.”

Final squads for both teams will be announced in early July.

Thai Airways Oly-Whites schedule

July 12 v Australia – North Sydney Oval
July 15 v Central Coast Mariners - Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
July 20 v PSMS Medan – Jakarta
July 24 v Indonesia – Jakarta
July 26 v Persija – Jakarta
XXIX Olympiad
August 7: New Zealand v China PR – Shengyang
August 10: New Zealand v Brazil – Shengyang
August 13: New Zealand v Belgium – Shanghai

Football Ferns Schedule

July 12 v Australia – North Sydney Oval
July 16 v China – Qinhuangdao
July 20 v China – Qinhuangdao
July 23 v Singapore – Singapore
July 25 v Canada – Singapore
XXIX Olympiad
August 6: New Zealand v Japan – Qinhuangdao
August 9: New Zealand v Norway – Qinhuangdao
August 12: New Zealand v USA – Shengyang

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

AUCKLAND - The Football Ferns were left to rue bad luck and a horror start after losing 0-2 to Canada in the Peace Queen Cup on Wednesday night.

The shock of a first minute goal to Christine Sinclair was topped by a red card for reserve goalkeeper Rachel Howard – two minutes after coming on as a halftime replacement for Jenny Bindon.

In just her second international, defender Kristy Hill was forced to don a borrowed pair of gloves and finish the game in goal. That she only conceded the resulting Kara Lang penalty was testimony to a courageous 10-player fight-back that denied Canada any threatening chances from open play in the second half.

With less than a minute played Canadian goal-machine Sinclair created enough of an opening on the edge of the area to squeeze off a curling shot over the outstretched leg of her marker.

Story and photographs courtesy New Zealand Football Media 

For the full story click here

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Football Ferns defender Kirsty Hill dons the goalkeeper gloves after the sending off of Rachel Howard

New Zealand's Emma Kete breaks through the Canada defence 

Canada celebrate the final whistle and a place in the Peace Queen Cup Final 

AUCKLAND – The Football Ferns are aiming to shake the hangover of Monday’s history-making Peace Queen Cup win over Argentina by claiming the scalp of world number nine Canada in Suwon on Wednesday.

A confidence boosting but energy sapping 1-0 win over the South American champions – their first outside Oceania since 1993 – kept alive New Zealand’s hopes of making the Peace Queen Cup final, but with a four goal margin victory needed to overhaul the group leading Canadians, head coach John Herdman would happily take a second taste of victory.

“We’re in a tournament so we have to treat it as such, and take a run at making the final” Herdman said.

“That’s the dream goal, but the key is to get a result against a top tier nation.”

Adding extra incentive to Wednesday night’s Group A decider, is the fact that the ninth ranked Canadians offer a pointer to the three teams – Japan (world number 10), Norway (4), and USA (1) – Herdman’s side will meet in August.

Story and photographs courtesy of NZF Media...

For the full story click here

For all the latest news and updates in New Zealand Football please visit www.nzfootball.co.nz 

AUCKLAND – The New Zealand Football Ferns gave their Olympic preparation a timely boost, and kept their hopes of making the Peace Queen Cup final alive with an historic 1-0 win over South American champions Argentina in Suwon, Korea on Monday night.

Former Arsenal striker Amber Hearn got the only goal of the game – her first at international level – in the seventh minute, heading home from six yards after the Argentinean goalkeeper could only tip Rebecca Smith’s 35 yard free kick on to the cross bar.

New Zealand dominated the first half and could have led by more at the break but had to withstand a second half fight-back from the South Americans to record the first win for any New Zealand football side over Argentina.

Story courtesy NZF Media

For the full story click here

For the latest news and updates from the Peace Queen Cup please visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

AUCKLAND – The Football Ferns head into a Peace Queen Cup showdown in Suwon against Argentina on Monday night (NZT) ready to weather a South American storm and keep their hopes of a finals place alive.

New Zealand lost 2-1 to Korea in the opening game of the tournament while Argentina sit bottom of the group after a 5-0 loss to Canada, meaning both sides need a win to have any hopes of winning Group A and making Saturday’s final.

As extra motivation the Football Ferns can claim New Zealand’s first victory at any level over the football powerhouse, although head coach John Herdman says it’s just part of the picture.

"It’s a massive opportunity to make a bit of history, but first and foremost the players want the three points to keep the dream of making the Peace Queen Cup final alive," Herdman said

Story courtesy of NZF Media

For the latest news and updates from the Peace Queen Cup please visit www.nzfootball.co.nz  

AUCKLAND – A two-minute burst of quicksilver Korean counter-attacking snatched a 2-1 win from under the noses of the Football Ferns in their Peace Queen Cup opener in Suwon on Saturday night (NZT).

New Zealand led 1-0 at halftime thanks to Kirsty Yallop’s 13th minute goal but Kwon Hah-Nul and Park Hee-Young put the finishing touches on two blistering counter-attacks in the 68th and 70th minutes respectively to prevent the Football Ferns notching their first win on Asian soil in 21 years.

Despite limited preparation due to a late invitation to the eight team tournament, New Zealand dominated the first half at the Suwon World Cup Stadium and much of the second.

Yallop and captain Hayley Moorwood were commanding in midfield while fit-again Sweden-based defender Rebecca Smith quickly struck up an effective partnership with her centre-back partner Abby Erceg.

Story courtesy of NZF Media

For all the latest news at the Peace Queen Cup please visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

SUVA - He was lauded as an Oceania football hero in Noumea last week and now Christian Karembeu is championing the fight against HIV/AIDS alongside UNAIDS, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and the Oceania National Olympic Committees.

The former Real Madrid and France international football hero gave his full backing to the Stop HIV Day at the OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament in March and the OFC Women's Olympic Football Tournament play-off between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in Port Moresby on International Women's Day.

OFC with the help of host broadcaster EMTV covered the match live in Port Moresby - the first time an international women's football match had been broadcast in Papua New Guinea.

For full details of the impact of the OFC UNAIDS Stop HIV Day at the Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers in Fiji and Papua New Guinea download this document:

Download here:

Stop HIV Newsletter Issue Five