Football Ferns finish campaign with a loss
The Football Ferns finished the Cup of Nations with a narrow loss to South Korea, going down 2-0 in Melbourne yesterday.
Chelsea midfielder Ji So Yun’s strike put South Korea ahead in the 73rd minute, just as the Ferns were beginning to look good for a rare result against a side higher than them in the Fifa rankings, with Moon Mi Ra sealing the deal late on.
While they would have preferred to exceed expectations, rather than meet them, the Ferns’ results in Australia – which included a 2-0 loss to the hosts and a 2-0 win over Argentina – were a positive sign, especially when you consider it was the first football many of the team had played in months.
Coach Tom Sermanni has now had the chance to see all of his outfield players in action against non-Oceania opposition and will have a good idea of what he has at his disposal for the World Cup in France in June.
Forward Emma Kete started for the Ferns for the first time since 2012 and it was easy to see why Sermanni had given her a chance despite her lack of toplevel football in recent years, Kete was like an energiser bunny up top in her 50th game for the national team.
The Ferns’ only chance of the first half fell her way in the 38th minute. After doing well to stay onside, she received a through ball from Rosie White and was clear on goal, only to send her shot straight at goalkeeper Yeo Min Ji.
The first half of the second half was largely played between the two boxes, with the best chances going the way of the Ferns – White shooting wide from the right and Paige Satchell opting to tee up Aimee Phillips rather than shoot herself from a similar position.
South Korea introduced Ji So Yun midway through the spell and the Chelsea midfielder produced a moment of class to put her side ahead with 17 minutes to play, shaking off the close attention of Rebekah Stott and firing past Erin Nayler from the edge of the box.
Moon Mi Ra put the game to bed three minutes from time, following up after Son Hwa Yeon’s shot was saved.