New Zealand 2-1 Venezuela
by Jonathon Hagger (4/6/25)
Above: Rebekah Stott (13) in possession for the Football Ferns against Venezuela yesterday. Photo: RNZ.
The Football Ferns responded from a disappointing performance and result against the Venezuelans at the end of last week to level the two-match series in Spain yesterday.
New Zealand were hungry to secure a win and ensure they tied the series. Ferns’ coach Micheal Mayne made five changes to the starting lineup, rewarding a number of players who were not included in the first match. Those players included Liz Anton in the defensive line, Manaia Elliot, Milly Clegg, Jacqui Hand, and Kellie Brown in the midfield and forward positions.
The match started with a similar feel to match one as Venezuela had an early opportunity to score the opening goal from deep inside the Ferns’ half in the opening minutes. Keeper Victoria Esson was called into action, but the shot sailed across the face of the goal and exited harmlessly on the other side.
New Zealand started this match much more positively. Their first real opportunity came in the tenth minute as they launched a counterattack, harnessing the speed and precision of Hand. While no shot was put on goal, a lapse of discipline by the Venezuelan defenders taking down Ferns defender Taylor resulted in a penalty. Katie Kitching stepped up to take the kick, but the shot deflected off the post.
With Annalie Longo playing in her preferred midfield role, much more energy and speed in transition were demonstrated, giving the Ferns forwards space to work with.
The next real opportunity for a goal came in the 40th minute as Venezuela were awarded a free kick just inside the field of play from the Ferns’ left-hand corner flag. An average-looking kick was not collected by Esson, allowing Mariana Speckmaier to somehow get a toe on the ball and slide it into the goal.
Just three minutes later, New Zealand leveled the scores. A pass back from the midfield to the defenders that looked innocent was played up the right-hand wing, and a beautiful cross from Brown found Clegg standing unguarded in the area, and a quality shot beat the goalkeeper.
Just mere seconds later, a speculative chip kick by Castellanos midway in the Ferns’ half, flew over Esson’s head and missed the target by a manner of inches.
The second half started with New Zealand applying all the pressure. Venezuela were mostly held in their own half as they were unable to find their way into the opposition’s half. It wasn’t until the 58th minute that the South Americans had their first scoring opportunity, which arose from a corner kick, won by Speckmaier. The ball fell nicely for the Ferns and was easily tidied up.
New Zealand grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute following Venezuela’s inability to clear the ball from deep within their half. Following a pinpoint accurate cross in front of the goal, a lovely cutback and nutmeg by Elliot found Hand waiting to guide the ball into the net.
It was fantastic to see both teams’ hunger from this point on, as each team fought to get the win. The Ferns fought hard to gain possession and shut out the Venezuelan attacking forays while their opposition desperately sought out avenues to move the ball into the New Zealand half. The final twenty minutes of the match went backwards and forwards with neither team gaining the ascendancy as the Ferns gained the win.
The Ferns team looked far more comfortable in this match, and the chemistry among players was much more apparent. With Longo dropping back into the midfield proper, she became the provider of quality through balls and an additional defender as required. With Longo being able to maximise her speed, space was created at the front for the strikers to sit high up the pitch.
The introduction of players who value keeping possession also made an impact. Hand, Brown, and Elliot all provided speed and precision along with chemistry with their teammates, which was largely missing in the first match.
New kids, Manaia Elliot and Deven Jackson, both had high-quality matches and looked very comfortable mixing it up against international opponents.
In a reversal of the first match, the Venezuelan team found the going tough trying to break through the Ferns’ lines to get into attacking areas. With no space opening up through the middle, the wings were targeted first, and then long balls over the top became the strategy.
However, the Ferns were up to the challenge, and besides giving up one goal, the tactic of applying pressure and maintaining possession worked throughout. Venezuela lacked the intensity that they played with in the first match and came up short.
Ultimately, the team that had the greater level of on-pitch chemistry took the win across both friendly matches. In match two, the New Zealand players who missed out playing earlier in the week, took their opportunities and showed that they are hungry and capable of more.
Teams: NEW ZEALAND (3-4-3): Esson, Taylor, Anton, Moore, Stott, Longo, Kitching, Elliot, Hand, Clegg, Brown. Substitutes: Bunge (46’), Hahn (66’), Pijnenburg (66’), Green (84’), Hassett (72’), Jackson (46’).
Scorers: Clegg 43’, Hand 73’.
VENEZUELA (4-2-3-1): Rebanales, Herrera, Gimenez, Rodriguez, Garcia, Castellanos, Altuve, Apostol, Speckmaier, Oliveri, Angelo. Substitutes: Chirinos (46’), Carassco (70’), Rodriguez (79’), Guarecuco (70’), Pescatore (80’), Herrera (90’).
Scorer: Speckmaier 41’.
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