A penalty save, a point making goal (in more ways than one) and some good old fashioned physicality characterized the Ford Football Ferns’ 1-1 draw with Korea Republic at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium this evening.

Lining up in a 442 formation once again, head coach Jitka Klimková made two changes to the side that started the first instalment of the two-game series, with Grace Jale coming on in the place of Indiah-Paige Riley in  right midfield, and Cantabrian Gabi Rennie replacing the injured Emma Rolston, as the Ferns picked up where they left off on Saturday afternoon. Like the weekend’s game, tonight was a physical affair.

The first real shot of the game came in the 10^th minute courtesy of Son Hwayeon, after some deft movement down the right flank, but Ferns skipper Vic Esson got a strong hand to it to keep the Ferns’ goal intact.

Minutes later, the Ferns opened the scoring. Rennie pounced on a poor pass on the edge of the Korean box and her parried shot fell to the feet of Liv Chance. Having spoken before the game about the importance of scoring goals to the team, the playmaker was fated to get on the scoresheet tonight after coming close on the weekend, and she duly plundered the ball into the open net for her second international goal, and Orangetheory Stadium erupted. 1-0 Ferns.

The Ferns maintained their lead into halftime, but conceded early in the second half, after a Korean corner fell to an unmarked Jang Selgi. She scooped the ball back into the box for Park Yeeun to finish at close range with a flick of the heel.

The Ferns had an opportunity to take the lead back in the 63^rd minute, on a quick breakaway. Indiah-Paige Riley picked up a loose ball and slid it in for Rennie. Roared on by her home crowd, the young forward was closely tailed by two Korean defenders, and fired her shot at goalkeeper Kim Hyeri.

The game’s most dramatic moment came in the 84^th minute. Esson rushed to meet the ball and bundled Geummin over in the process, with referee Kate Jacewicz not hesitating for a second as she immediately blew for a penalty. But roared on by her hometown crowd, Esson guessed correctly and dived to her right to deny Hwayeon, much to the delight of her teammates, who rushed to celebrate with her, and her hometown crowd.

While the Ferns might not have come away from the series with the home win they so craved, their resolution and progress in recent months, coupled with their pride in representing the Fern in Aotearoa is a strong foundation for the team to build on in 2023.

Ford Football Ferns 1 (Chance, 13’)

Korea Republic 1 (Yeeun, 57’)

Attendance: 3523

Article added: Tuesday 15 November 2022