Football Ferns coach Tony Readings is confident his side's "below par" 2-0 loss to Canada in an Olympic Games warm-up in Switzerland this morning was a one-off as London 2012 draws closer.
While the Canadians, ranked seventh in the world, were favourites to beat 23rd ranked New Zealand at their Matchworld Women's Cup match in Chtel-St-Denis, Readings was not happy with the quality of his team's showing.
"Canada were the better team and deserved to win that game," Readings acknowledged.
"It was a below par Football Ferns performance and nowhere near what we're capable of."
Turnovers in midfield lead to both goals with Diana Matheson finishing the first with a superb chip over Jenny Bindon in the 30th minute and Canadian captain Christine Sinclair netting her 136th international goal on the break just minutes into the second half.
New Zealand's best chances both cannoned off the crossbar with Amber Hearn rattling the woodwork early in the first half and substitute Annalie Longo doing the same from a long range effort midway through the second.
Canada's physical approach disrupted New Zealand with fullback Ali Riley falling victim to the worst challenges. She was caught by a two footed tackle from Sinclair in the first half then a nasty late Robyn Gayle challenge ended her afternoon and left coaching staff sweating over an ankle injury that will be reassessed in the morning.
New Zealand play Colombia on Wednesday morning (NZT) before travelling to London to enter the Olympic Village.
Meanwhile, the men's Olympic team have been beaten by Korea Republic 2-1 in Seoul last night (sat) in the second of three warm ups for London.
The Oly Whites fell behind to a skilful back heel finish from Ji Dong-Won in the 18th minute but overage striker Shane Smeltz restored parity with a clinical finish through the legs of a defender and the goalkeeper in the 73rd minute from Adam Thomas's cross.
A second draw in four days - the Oly Whites drew 1-1 with Japan on Wednesday night - looked on the cards until Park Jong Woo drifted through a flat New Zealand defence, took a long pass on his chest, turned his man and slotted the ball past Michael O'Keeffe who had impressed after replacing Jake Gleeson early in the second half.
Tommy Smith, in England resting a hamstring strain, will be the last of the nine players not involved in the qualifying campaign to join the side when they meet up in London while Adam McGeorge and Tim Myers also missed tonight's match through injury and illness respectively.
There were late chances for the home side including a free kick which hit the post and a close range Kim Bo-Kyung shot in injury time that O'Keeffe incredibly deflected over the bar with a strong right hand.
Gleeson's groin injury would be assessed fully by team medical staff during the week but early signs of recovery were promising. The team fly out to London on Monday and face UAE in their final warm up match in Austria on Friday (NZT).
The Oly Whites open their Olympic campaign against Belarus in Coventry on July 26, one day before the London 2012 opening ceremony. They also face Egypt and Brazil in Group C.
Results: Canada 2 (Diana Matheson 30', Christine Sinclair 48') Football Ferns 0 HT: 0-1
Korea Republic Under-23 2 (JI Dong-Won 18', Park Jong-Woo 83') New Zealand Under-23 1 (Shane Smeltz 73') HT: 0-1
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| Tony Readings Football Ferns coach |
While the Canadians, ranked seventh in the world, were favourites to beat 23rd ranked New Zealand at their Matchworld Women's Cup match in Chtel-St-Denis, Readings was not happy with the quality of his team's showing.
"Canada were the better team and deserved to win that game," Readings acknowledged.
"It was a below par Football Ferns performance and nowhere near what we're capable of."
Turnovers in midfield lead to both goals with Diana Matheson finishing the first with a superb chip over Jenny Bindon in the 30th minute and Canadian captain Christine Sinclair netting her 136th international goal on the break just minutes into the second half.
New Zealand's best chances both cannoned off the crossbar with Amber Hearn rattling the woodwork early in the first half and substitute Annalie Longo doing the same from a long range effort midway through the second.
Canada's physical approach disrupted New Zealand with fullback Ali Riley falling victim to the worst challenges. She was caught by a two footed tackle from Sinclair in the first half then a nasty late Robyn Gayle challenge ended her afternoon and left coaching staff sweating over an ankle injury that will be reassessed in the morning.
New Zealand play Colombia on Wednesday morning (NZT) before travelling to London to enter the Olympic Village.
Meanwhile, the men's Olympic team have been beaten by Korea Republic 2-1 in Seoul last night (sat) in the second of three warm ups for London.
The Oly Whites fell behind to a skilful back heel finish from Ji Dong-Won in the 18th minute but overage striker Shane Smeltz restored parity with a clinical finish through the legs of a defender and the goalkeeper in the 73rd minute from Adam Thomas's cross.
A second draw in four days - the Oly Whites drew 1-1 with Japan on Wednesday night - looked on the cards until Park Jong Woo drifted through a flat New Zealand defence, took a long pass on his chest, turned his man and slotted the ball past Michael O'Keeffe who had impressed after replacing Jake Gleeson early in the second half.
Tommy Smith, in England resting a hamstring strain, will be the last of the nine players not involved in the qualifying campaign to join the side when they meet up in London while Adam McGeorge and Tim Myers also missed tonight's match through injury and illness respectively.
There were late chances for the home side including a free kick which hit the post and a close range Kim Bo-Kyung shot in injury time that O'Keeffe incredibly deflected over the bar with a strong right hand.
Gleeson's groin injury would be assessed fully by team medical staff during the week but early signs of recovery were promising. The team fly out to London on Monday and face UAE in their final warm up match in Austria on Friday (NZT).
The Oly Whites open their Olympic campaign against Belarus in Coventry on July 26, one day before the London 2012 opening ceremony. They also face Egypt and Brazil in Group C.
Results: Canada 2 (Diana Matheson 30', Christine Sinclair 48') Football Ferns 0 HT: 0-1
Korea Republic Under-23 2 (JI Dong-Won 18', Park Jong-Woo 83') New Zealand Under-23 1 (Shane Smeltz 73') HT: 0-1
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