All three games in group A of the tournament were goalless draws, meaning no countback could separate New Zealand, England and South Korea and leaving the hosts celebrating a place in Saturday’s final against Australia after their name was revealed in a tense post-match draw.
England shaded the Ferns in the first half and threatened to break down the New Zealanders immediately after halftime.
Kelly Smith and Eniola Aluko forced sharp saves from Jenny Bindon but it was academic as the play was called back for offside both times.
But with the storm of England pressure weathered, New Zealand enjoyed their best passage of the game, kicked off by Rosie White being denied by a solid one-on-one save by England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
The introduction of Sarah Gregorius in the 55th minute paid almost instant dividends as the diminutive striker’s first touch was a diving header that drew the save of the game from Bardsley.
Another substitute, Betsy Hassett, had Bardsley beaten in the 82nd minute but her shot from the edge of the area thundered into the cross bar.
Although disappointed with the manner of the team’s exit, New Zealand coach John Herdman took heart from the second-half performance against a team already qualified for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We’ve gone out on the international stage against teams ranked higher than us and got results,” he says.
“A couple of cleansheets and unbeaten in these two games shows we’re really starting to cement our place in the top flight. What’s important now is that we are able to reproduce what we did in that 30-minute period against England for the full 90.
“We’re striving to be more consistent with those periods of attacking play but I’m walking away thinking we were able to sustain that 30 minutes of attack with real intent against the ninth-ranked team in the world.
“Add in the draw last year against France, another top 10 team who have qualified for Germany, and it bodes well for where we are moving into next year’s World Cup.
“We’re still playing a couple of teenagers up front and injuries mean we haven’t been able to put our best 11 on the park so that’s been really pleasing.”
2010 Peace Queen Cup
Suwon, South Korea
New Zealand 0 England 0
Halftime: 0-0
New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 3-Anna GREEN (12-Betsy HASSETT 55), 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 7-Ali RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD (captain), 9-Amber HEARN, 14-Rosie WHITE (16-Emma KETE 86), 17-Hannah WILKINSON (15-Sarah GREGORIUS 55).
Substitutes not used: 10-Elizabeth MILNE, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 13-Maia JACKMAN, 18-Kristy HILL, 20-Aroon CLANSEY (RGK).
Coach: John HERDMAN
England: 13-Karen BARDSLEY (GK), 2-Alex Scott, 3-Rachel UNITT, 5-Faye WHITE,7- Jessica CLARKE, 9-Eniola ALUKO (11-Rachel YANKEY 87), 15, 10-Kelly SMITH (8-Fara WILLIAMS 85), 14-Laura BASSETT, 16-Dunia SUSI (12-Ellen WHITE 78), 19-Lindsay JOHNSON, 20-Anita ASANTE.
Substitutes not used: 1-Rachel BROWN (GK), 4-Jill SCOTT, 6-Casey STONEY, -Stephanie HOUGHTON, 17-Sophie BRADLEY, 18-Sue SMITH.
Coach: Hope POWELL
Story and photo courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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