12 Feb 2012

Football Ferns lose 2-1 in heartbreaker in Frisco

3:04 pm on 12 February 2012

The New Zealand women's football team has lost 2-1 to the United States women in Texas.

The Football Ferns led 1-0 until the 89th minute but finally succumbed to intense US pressure, conceding two very late goals to the world number one-ranked side at a sold-out FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco.

Hannah Wilkinson scored the New Zealand goal in the 49th minute, latching onto a poor back pass to chip the American goalkeeper, while Alex Morgan replied with a header with two minutes of regular time remaining, then headed home the winner in the 94th minute.

The Football Ferns also survived an early penalty which Abby Wambauch couldn't convert, the USA striker hitting the woodwork.

The New Zealand team's next matches are at the Cyprus Cup beginning February 28th where they meet Northern Ireland, South Africa and South Korea at the 12-nation tournament before the last stage of Olympic qualifying sees them face an as yet undetermined Oceania nation home and away in March and April for the final berth in London.