The Football Ferns’ bid to write a new chapter in their history will have to wait until the 2020 Toyko Olympics after bowing out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Cameroon this morning (NZT).

Heading into the crunch match, the Ferns knew a maiden World Cup win would probably be enough to earn them an unprecedented place in the Round of 16 – which would have been the first time a team from these shores had ever progressed to the knockout stages at a senior World Cup.

But Cameroon could also keep their hopes of progressing alive with a win in Montpellier and an absorbing encounter unfolded as a result.

After an closely-fought first half ended scoreless, the match came to life just before the hour when the impressive Ajara Nchout gave Cameroon the lead.

New Zealand were then staring down the barrel of a tournament exit and responded accordingly, earning a lifeline when a Katie Bowen cross was sliced into her own net by an unfortunate Cameroon defender.

The action then swung from end-to-end as both sides desperately searched for a winner that would secure their progression but it was Cameroon who finally found it to break the Ferns’ hearts. With what turned out to be the last kick of the game deep into additional time, Nchout tucked home a dramatic winner to send the central Africans into delirium and leave New Zealand crestfallen.

Coach Tom Sermanni found no fault in his players’ sense of endeavour but admitted a lack of precision at crucial times cost them.

“We were chasing the game and we pushed players forward because we had to take those risks,” he said.

“But, to be honest, if we’d just done a couple of things a little bit better when we took those risks, we would have scored the second goal,” he added.

“So there’s a couple of things to learn from that but the effort of the players and the commitment they showed was outstanding, I couldn’t ask any more of them. The only thing I could have asked is if we’d just done a couple of the things we’d talked about a little bit better then I think we would have won the game today.”

Played in hot and humid conditions at Stade de la Mosson, the game was a repeat of the situation from the 2012 London Olympics when New Zealand had to beat Cameroon to advance to the quarter-finals, the Ferns prevailing on that occasion 3-1.

Sermanni made two changes from the team defeated by Canada in the previous match, hugely experienced midfielder Katie Duncan starting in a 3-5-2 formation with Betsy Hassett dropping to the bench while Anna Green came in for the injured CJ Bott (fractured wrist).

Both sides enjoyed plenty of the ball in the first half and, although Cameroon took more shots at Erin Nayler in the New Zealand goal, most of them were from long range and either went wide or were comfortably dealt with.

But that changed in the second spell when Nchout turned sharply in the box and slotted past Nayler as Cameroon took a sizeable step towards the Round of 16.

With their hopes of progression now in danger of fading away, New Zealand emerged as more of an attacking threat and very nearly forced a quick equaliser when Sarah Gregorius headed an Ali Riley cross narrowly past the front post. The Ferns were then indebted to the heroics of Nayler, who somehow pulled off three stunning saves in quick succession to keep her side in the contest.

Substitute Betsy Hassett then went agonisingly close to equalising when meeting a Rosie White cross sweetly with her head by Cameroon goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom launched herself to her right to tip it around the post.

The own goal then set up a grandstand finish with ten minutes remaining and New Zealand very nearly won it when Hannah Wilkinson, who had earlier joined Hassett in coming off the bench, teed up Olivia Chance just outside the box but the midfielder’s effort fizzed just wide.

It appeared as if both sides would be exiting the tournament as the dying seconds approached with the score still locked at 1-1 but Nchout then popped up to make a national heroine of herself with the match-winner.

“None of the results went our way but you can’t underestimate how much work we’ve put into all of the games, we’ve worked hard and it’s just the little differences that have affect the results,” Chance said.

“I think we’re going to have to go back and work really hard to make sure that this doesn’t happen again because it really hurts. There’s a lot of girls here that have been to multiple World Cups and we’ve let the opportunity slip this time so we’re extremely gutted at the moment,” she added.

“We just need to let this sink in, remember this feeling and let it drive us for the Olympics. We really need to knuckle down and make sure we’re back to winning at the Olympics.”

Match Details

Cameroon 2 (Ajara Nchout 57’, 90+5’)
New Zealand 1 (Own goal 80’)
HT: 0-0 

New Zealand: 1. Erin Nayler (GK), 2. Ria Percival, 3. Anna Green (12. Betsy Hassett 68’), 6. Rebekah Stott, 7. Ali Riley (c), 8. Abby Erceg, 11. Sarah Gregorius, 13. Rosie White, 14. Katie Bowen, 16. Katie Duncan (17. Hannah Wilkinson 68’), 22. Olivia Chance (10. Annalie Longo 88’)
Substitutes not used: 5. Nicole Stratford, 9. Emma Kete, 15. Sarah Morton, 18. Stephanie Skilton, 19. Paige Satchell, 20. Daisy Cleverley, 21. Victoria Esson (GK), 23. Nadia Olla (GK)
Cautions: Anna Green 68’
Coach: Tom Sermanni

Article added: Friday 21 June 2019