Ferns goalkeeper spot on

‘‘Pick a spot and go for it.’’

That was New Zealand coach Leon Birnie’s message to goalkeeper Anna Leat, who stepped up to take their matchwinning attempt in a dramatic penalty shootout against Japan.

The 17-year-old, who has already played three times for the Football Ferns, scored to send New Zealand through to the semifinals of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time.

They won the penalty shootout 4-3, with Leat also making a key save to deny Japan’s Shino Matsuda, and will now play European champions Spain on Thursday (8am NZ time).

Maya Hahn, Grace Wisnewski and Kelli Brown also converted their penalty attempts for New Zealand, with Jayda Stewart skying her shot above the bar.

‘‘I just got thrown in the deep end,’’ an elated Leat said after the match as she dodged team-mates who were charging about on the sidelines, waving New Zealand flags as if they had just won the World Cup.

‘‘The coach was pretty keen to have me take one so he just wrote me on the card. In shooting we play a lot and I’m into that. Striker is my second position.’’

New Zealand made a promising start to the quarterfinal, in Colonia Del Sacramento yesterday and they were rewarded in the 17th minute when Amelia Abbott scored from edge of the box following a cunning corner where captain Aneka Mittendorff purposely stepped over the ball before it reached the Nelson midfielder.

‘‘We’ve been practising that for so long now and it paid off,’’ said Mittendorff, who was in tears describing her joy. ‘‘It means the world to us. I’m lost for words. Anna is my idol honestly. When she stepped up I knew she was going to slot it in.’’

An unfortunate error then cost New Zealand the lead when Hannah Mackay-Wright turned the ball into her own net on the 31st minute mark.

Mackay-Wright did well to block Momoka Kinoshita’s shot on the line but the ball landed awkwardly at her feet.

Cheered on by a large group of travelling family members, New Zealand went close to doubling their lead moments earlier, with Maggie Jenkins hitting the crossbar after getting in behind the Japan defence.

Japan took control of the match in the second half though, spending the majority of the 45 minutes camped in the New Zealand half. They had 67 per cent of possession and looked the most likely to score.

But ultimately they were unable to beat goalkeeper Leat, who produced a player of the match performance.

‘‘This doesn’t feel real. I can’t even believe it. If we can get a medal it would be insane,’’ she said.

‘‘Being able to say that you haven’t gone home, you’ve been here the whole tournament is just unheard of for New Zealand.’’

Birnie was also stunned by the result.

‘‘What a special moment for the players, the staff and all the families that are over here and back home,’’ he said. ‘‘So many people have helped these girls and it’s an amazing moment and one that will go down in the history books for a long time.

‘‘The scary thing is I’m not sure if we are finished. I’m going to have to text my CEO and see if I have some more annual leave.’’

New Zealand beat Finland (1-0) and Uruguay (2-1) but lost to Ghana (2-0) to finish second in group A. It was the first time they had reached the knockout stage at the tournament.

‘‘This doesn’t feel real. I can’t even believe it. If we can get a medal it would be insane.’’ New Zealand goalkeeping hero Anna Leat, above scoring her matchwinning penalty