The opening match for New Zealand’s U-17 women against Mexico in the capital city of Baku will be broadcast in New Zealand on Sunday night on Sky Sport 2. The Young Football Ferns’ second match with Japan, set to take place in the early hours of September 27, has also been locked in for Sky Sport 1.
The final match of the group stage against Brazil is currently unconfirmed for live coverage but will definitely be shown delayed on the Sky Sports platform. Additional matches will depend on the Young Football Ferns’ progress but both semi-finals and the final have also been scheduled for live coverage.
The news of television coverage has been greeted with excitement by Young Football Ferns coach Paul Temple, whose charges have just completed a successful two-match tour of Switzerland in which they took on local sides Yverdon and Sion.
Yverdon currently sit second in the Swiss Nationalliga A and shot out to a 2-0 lead at half-time but, after the Ferns shuffled their pack at the interval, they were able to catch their opponents on the counter attack to eventually claim a 3-2 victory. Goals to Emma Fletcher, Emma Rolston and Jasmine Pereira earned the comeback win.
The match with Sion two days later was a far more comfortable affair with the Ferns running out 8-0 winners with a brace to Fletcher and one a piece to CJ Bott, Megan Lee, Meikayla Moore, Briar Palmer, Emily Oosterhof and Martine Puketapu.
Speaking just prior to departure from their Swiss training base, Temple was encouraged by the results of the tour.
“It’s worked out well to be honest,” he said.
“We had a really tough game first up, learned quite a few things and worked on fixing them, and then had a good confidence builder last night leading into the first game. Everyone is in a good space and we’re just looking forward to getting to the World Cup now.”
With no pre-tournament matches scheduled in Azerbaijan and no injury concerns, the Young Football Ferns will train in Baku in preparation for their crucial first match with Mexico on Sunday night.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
New Zealand v Mexico
Bayil Stadium, Baku
September 23
3pm (10pm NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 2
New Zealand v Japan
8km Stadium, Baku
September 26
8pm (3am 27/9 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1
New Zealand v Brazil
8km Stadium, Baku
September 30
2pm (9pm NZT)
Sky Sport coverage TBC
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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