by JJ Duke
The equation was quite simple for New Zealand, and what the Football Ferns were hoping for is what they got. Unlike the World Cup where the top two in each group advance, the Olympics take the top two in each of the three groups plus the best two third place ranked sides. The advantage for New Zealand was they saw the results from the earlier games and knew exactly what they needed to do as they stepped onto the pitch at the City of Coventry Stadium against Cameroon Wednesday evening. After Canada drew 2-2 with Sweden and North Korea lost to the United States 1-0, Canada clinched the top third place spot and if New Zealand won their match, they were into the quarterfinals. If they lost, North Korea would qualify as the second best third place side.
And the result is what they would get, as New Zealand defeated Cameroon by a score of 3-1, with goals coming from captain Rebecca Smith and Sarah Gregorius and benefitted from an own-goal as well. This was New Zealand’s first ever win at a major International competition and will progress to the quarterfinals to face the defending Gold Medalists from Beijing, the United States.
Tony Readings made two changes to his side after the Ferns dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Brazil on Saturday. Rosie White was called in to replace Hannah Wilkinson because of suspension due to picking up two yellow cards in the first two-group stage matches. And Annalie Longo replaced Hayley Moorwood in the midfield. As for Cameroon, Head Coach Ngachu Enow made five changes from the side that lost to the hosts Great Britain 3-0. After an early chance by Cameroon’s Gabrielle Onguene went wide, the match turned into a chess match. New Zealand had the majority of the possession while Cameroon bunkered in their defense and looked to spring counter-attacks whenever possible, trying to utilize their great speed down the flanks. The first good chance came in the 18th minute as after collecting a clearance off of a corner kick, Ria Percival hit a great cross to the back post that went past everyone, including a lunging Abby Erceg and just went outside of the back post.
That was the chance the Football Ferns needed to get rolling and started to attack down the flanks, which would prove to be quite effective. After a long distance, dipping effort from Katie Hoyle in the 34th minute that clipped the outside of the frame, the match opened up. After attempts from each side that came nothing more as simple saves for each goalkeeper, New Zealand put in their first through Rebecca Smith right before halftime. Percival hit a cross to the back post that Cameroon goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom tried to punch out, but missed. Then Smith powered a header downward that bounced over everyone and into the net. It was a big momentum shifter as they went into the dressing room with the 1-0 lead after dominating the last 15 minutes of the first half.
That momentum was capitalized with a second goal not even three minutes into the second half. A long ball over the top was corralled by Rosie White and was off down the left flank. Ngo Ndom came well out of her box and misplayed her tackle, leaving White on the end line with an open net. She put in a cross heading towards Sarah Gregorius but it was deflected into the net by Cameroon defender Ysis Songkeng, to give New Zealand a comfortable 2-0 lead. After that, the match really opened up as Cameroon was trying to get a result for pride, and New Zealand just countered with balls over the top and down the wings. Their third goal came in the 62nd minute and as she was nearly about to be subbed off, Gregorius scored her first Olympics goal off of a great cross from White. Smith played a great ball over the top to White, and the UCLA product waited patiently for Gregorius’ run and the cross was perfect, and Gregorius re-directed her header home.
Cameroon pulled a consolation goal back 15 minutes from time as after a corner kick, Adrienne Iven headed the ball towards goal, and Gabrielle Onguene, who came close early in the match, stood with her back to the goal and redirected the ball with a header past New Zealand ‘keeper Jenny Bindon. But despite that goal being Cameroon’s first goal of the tournament, it was not enough to stop New Zealand from killing off the game.
Overall it was a solid performance from New Zealand, Smith did quite well out of the back despite picking up a small cut below her eye in the latter stages of the match. She was playing great long passes over the top and cleaned up when necessary in the box. White played phenomenally well and repaid her manager well with the call-up to the starting XI. She nearly scored late in the match when Betsy Hassett fed her a great ball in front as well. And now the Football Ferns will face the USA in the quarterfinals on Friday in Newcastle. And earlier this year in Frisco, TX, New Zealand nearly stole a result against the USA as Hannah Wilkinson struck early in the second half, only to see the hosts score twice in the last five minutes in the match through Alex Morgan. But it will be a great opportunity for the Football Ferns with their first visit to the knockout stages in a big tournament, a testament to the growth of the game in New Zealand.