5 Mar 2015

Football Ferns fight back to draw

12:41 pm on 5 March 2015

The New Zealand women's football team fought back from a two-goal deficit to claim a 2-2 draw against world number 15th-ranked Spain in Guadalajara.

The Football Ferns' Amber Hearn in action.

The Football Ferns' Amber Hearn in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Having fallen behind to Vero Boquete's 20th minute strike, the Football Ferns, ranked 18th in the world, went 2-2 down seven minutes into the second half as Sonia Bermudez doubled the host's lead.

But forward Hannah Wilkinson's 22nd goal for her country just after the hour mark gave the Football Ferns a lifeline.

The New Zealand substitute Amber Hearn then scored her 45th goal in her 95th international with eight minutes remaining to put the visitors back on level terms.

The Football Ferns were denied a late winner when substitute Jasmine Pereira - who also played a hand in setting up Hearn's equaliser - saw her goal ruled out for offside.

The two teams play each other again in the second and final match of their international friendly series in La Roda on Friday morning as they continue their build-up to this year's World Cup in Canada, which starts in June.

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