After displaying plenty of promise in Sunday morning’s 1-0 defeat to Korea Republic less than 24 hours after arriving from Auckland, the Kiwis were confident of scalping the European runners-up.
They looked on track when Evie Millynn put them ahead in the 25th minute but a Siobhan Killeen equaliser before halftime and a late winner from Rebecca Kearney earned the Irish the spoils.
With under a week remaining before New Zealand open their Group C campaign against Venezuela on Tuesday morning (NZT), coach Dave Edmondson says the result is a stark reminder that only the best is good enough against World Cup opposition.
“The big positive is that the girls have had a real kick up the backside now,” he says.
“Confidence was really high after a very good performance against South Korea considering we had just got off the plane the night before. But they have really been brought down to earth with this match.
“Although we thought we were a good chance against Ireland, we’re not that good that we can turn up in cruise mode and get the result we want.
“It’s the last warm up game and players are playing for starting positions against Venezuela but some of them went through the motions today.
“To some extent it is understandable so close to a World Cup, not wanting to get injured in the last warm-up game or whatever. But we have let them know that today’s performance was unacceptable.”
On Friday (NZT) the Young Football Ferns travel to Couva in Trinidad, where they face Venezuela on Sunday and European champions Spain three days later, before rounding out pool play against Japan in Scarborough, Tobago on September 14.
New Zealand’s matches at the tournament will be shown live on Sky Sport.
New Zealand 1 (Evie Millynn 25) Republic of Ireland 2 (Siobhan Killeen 37, Rebecca Kearney 86)
New Zealand: 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (GK / 20-Jess REDDAWAY 68), 2-Rachel HEAD, 3-Tessa MCPHERSON (19-Michelle WINDSOR 59), 4-Olivia CHANCE (13-Megan LEE 78), 6-Evie MILLYNN (16-Jessie MATHEWS 73), 7-Holly PATTERSON (5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH 78), 8-Kate LOYE (11-Grace PARKINSON 89), 10-Hannah WONG (12-Stephanie SKILTON 62), 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain/ 61), 17-Sivitha BOYCE (15-Kate CARLTON 73), 18-Rebecca BURROWS (9-Hannah CARLSEN 53).
Substitutes not used: 21-Lily ALFELD
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
For the latest news on NZ Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz